At the Ebenezer Boys
Orphanage near Santa Cruz, Bolivia live 17 boys with varying levels
of disabilities.
American Teachers of the International school in Santa Cruz have
worked with this orphanage in their spare time now for almost 3
years. They personally support the orphanage with their time and
with a donation of $250 a month, for which amount they buy food for
them.
The orphanage is run by a middle-aged couple
who themselves have a son with disabilities. It is not an easy job
and they work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They put every penny
they make in salary (about $150 a month) back into the home for
operating costs. They were inspired to help other children like
their son, so they started this home with only 2 children about 5
years ago. Now they have 17 children, in the ages between 8 and 22
years. Many of the children were found on the streets by the
authorities and brought to the home. In the Bolivia there is a
social stigma attached to disability and abandonment of children
with disabilities is a common problem. There are not enough homes to
help meet the needs of all of the children out there. There are no
Bolivian organisations that work with this orphanage as they are all
maxed out due to inflation.
When our projectfinder first went to the home, their cupboards were
bare and they did not have enough food to eat. Now, with the
assistance of the teachers, the situation has improved but there are
still some projects that the volunteers want to realize.
The boys and staff are currently trying to improve their funds by
selling baked goods and hamburgers in a stand out in front of the
home. Because of their limited staff and slightly remote location,
the volunteers do their shopping for them on a monthly basis. Meats,
dry goods, etc are cheapest here when purchased in the large open
air markets in large bulk quantities. To keep them fresh and to be
able to use them throughout the month they need a freezer (even dry
goods have to be stored in a freezer because of the humidity). A
freezer would also enable them to sell more baked goods, like
cookies.
