Bolivian Street Children Project

An Unforgettable Summer

2006-08-12T15:07:00.000-04:00

Along with our other activities this summer, Shannon and I helped one group of seven boys to make a movie—about anything they wanted. They chose to tell the story of a group of street kids who become soccer pros, win the money to pay for a friend’s operation, and finally decide to leave the streets and live in a home together.

Making this movie wasn’t easy for the boys. Working as a team and concentrating on a long-term project were challenges in themselves. Writing a script about street children brought back unpleasant memories and strong emotions. Some of the boys had to overcome their initial fears in order to act in front of the camera, or even to participate in the project at all. In our sessions together, they worked hard, took risks, and invested an incredible amount of themselves in this movie. At our good-bye dinner last week, we had a “film festival” to show the final result (a few photos from it are below). It was great to see how excited and proud the boys were—a couple of them even cried during the screening. (I have to admit, so did I.)

The movie ends with a short message: “We can all change our lives.” What I’ve found most amazing about working with the Bolivian Street Children Project this summer is that I see proof of this statement everywhere I look. Every one of the boys we met in the homes has changed his life for the better, against staggering odds. I have such high hopes for these kids. Considering what they’ve already achieved, I know they’re capable of reaching any goal they set for themselves.

Thank you so much for following our blog during the past months! Your interest and support have meant a lot to all of us.

Rehearsing a Hospital Scene

2006-08-12T15:01:00.000-04:00

Soccer Champions and their Winnings

2006-08-12T14:57:00.000-04:00

"Hospital" Bed

2006-08-12T14:50:00.000-04:00

It´s easy to forget...

2006-08-02T16:06:00.000-04:00

Given their condition now, it can be easy to forget that the boys we work with lived on the streets all by themselves. Some have been in the home for a few years, while others for only a couple of months. I can forget myself, because these boys are so full of enthusiasm for life and maintain a vibrant sense of numor. But every once in a while, there are reminders.

We took the boys to a camp in the jungle for a few days to celebrate the closing of our time together. The weather is warm during the day, but gets cold at night. One night, I was walking with one of the boys, and I mentioned that I felt cold. He responded that he was used to the cold, because when he slept on the streets, he only had a t-shirt. Keep in mind, in La Paz it gets down in the 20´s at night. This comment was a poignant reminder that not only do these children live without their families due to abandonment, death, abuse, etc., but they lived for extended periods of time on the rough and cold streets all by themselves as small children.

These are the same boys that refuse to let me help with a not-so-safe job that they have been given because I might hurt myself. The same boys that try to give me their possessions (marbles, cardboard Pog playing pieces, plastic necklaces) when I pay them a compliment. The same boys that serve me my food when we stay to share a meal with them. Because they are loving, protective, resilient, and amazing people.

Thank you to all who contributed to our project. Please know that you contributed to one of the most worthwhile projects with which I have had the privilege of working. Kristen S.

Just a friendly reminder...

2006-07-31T21:13:00.000-04:00

"It is prohibited to use this area as a bathroom.

The person who is surprised

will be under arrest for 48 hours."

-As seen on a street wall in Coroico

(Kristen S.)

Class, house party with the boys, and weekend trip

2006-07-31T20:48:00.000-04:00

Culture Class

My team does a culture class at one of the group homes. This class includes exposure to diverse cultures from around the world, as well as exploring self-identity. For one of these classes, we cooked a variety of international cuisine to share with the boys. Fine, I did more of the talentless "grunt work" while others did the complicated part, but that´s not the point! With our one pot and one pan, we made fried rice, curry, pigs in a blanket, crepes, etc. It was a great success, and the boys enjoyed guessing where each dish was from.

Road to Coroico

I took a weekend trip to Coroico, which is in the tropical Yungas of Bolivia. I went by bike, which is a 100km ride down what has been statistically determined to be the world´s most dangerous road (oops, did I leave that part out, Mom and Dad?). That´s right, I actually saw a bus at the bottom of one of the cliffs. It was a beautiful yet challenging ride. Four hours down narrow, rocky roads with sharp precipices a few feet from your tire. Trucks generally honked when they were coming around curves in the road, which was helpful. Too bad I don´t have a photo of me flying over my handlebars when my bike hit a hole. I took some photos of the massive bruise on my leg from where the bike then landed on me, but you really don´t want to see those. All in all, a great trip, but I´m content to do it once!

House paaaaarty!

We invited the boys over to our apartment to share what were perhaps the largest pizzas ever seen by a human being. Seriously, they were the size of a wagon wheel. However, there apparently was not enough for Kermit, who can be seen eating my face in the photo. We had a great time, and my mom will be very proud that we finished ALL of the pizza!

Reciting verses from the Bible

2006-07-27T11:32:00.000-04:00

Reciting verses from the Bible, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Having fun

2006-07-27T11:31:00.000-04:00

IMG_4440, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Futbol in the home

2006-07-27T11:30:00.000-04:00

Futbol in the home, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The boys play soccer anywhere, anytime that they can!

Still playing...

2006-07-27T11:28:00.000-04:00

IMG_4394, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Kristen´s Update

2006-07-20T18:14:00.000-04:00

The boys we work with in the homes are amazing and talented kids. They love reading, adore soccer, and many are amazing artists. These boys continue to impress me with their sense of humor and zest for life in spite of the many challenges they have faced so early on.

When they were given the responsibility of stripping the wood off of their school desks for varnishing, they were given pieces of broken glass to do the job. I was helping one of the younger boys, and offered to assist. His response: "And what if you cut yourself?"
He kept working without passing over the glass shard.

This has been an amazing experience. I can´t believe we only have 2 more weeks left. I will miss these boys immensely when we leave!

Lago Titicaca

2006-07-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

IMG_3979, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The following photos show our group trip from La Paz to Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) in Lago Titicaca by way of the lakeside town, Copacabana. Copacabana is not the famous tropical locale you may be thinking of (the one from the song is actually in Brazil). Bolivia's Copacabana does have a beach but it is lakeside and due to its setting in the high plateau of the Andes, the weather is quite brisk.

Walking down the street in Copacabana

2006-07-18T12:08:00.000-04:00

IMG_3976, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Cathedral at Copacabana

2006-07-18T12:07:00.000-04:00

IMG_3970, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Boat to the island

2006-07-18T12:05:00.000-04:00

IMG_3983, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The trip from La Paz to Lake Titicaca takes about 3.5 hours by big, stinky bus. We arrived in the little lakeside town of Copacabana and spent the night in a pretty nice hostel, with running water and hot-ish showers for 15 bolivianos (about $2). The next morning we got up to catch the early boat to Isla del Sol, the main island in the middle of the lake that was once home to a pre-Columbian civilization and now is full of little fishing and farming villages and has no cars but lots of tourists and bratty kids who demand money or sweets. We took this boat to get to the island with all the other tourists.

Tight squeeze

2006-07-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

IMG_3990, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Soaking up the sun despite the cold

2006-07-18T11:59:00.000-04:00

Soaking up the sun despite the cold, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

We sat on the top deck of the boat for the 2 hour trip from Copacabana to Isla del Sol.

Little boy outside window

2006-07-18T11:58:00.001-04:00

Little boy outside window, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Katia and an amazing view

2006-07-18T11:58:00.000-04:00

Katia and an amazing view, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

We docked in Isla del Sol and climbed the 375 steps of the Inca Staircase and then walked up the local trail to a hostel. We were hooked on it when we walked in and saw this view from the hallway. In the end, it turned out not to have running water, of course, not heat and some of our beds had no blankets. The owners deserted the place to attend a local wedding and we ended up having to push beds together and cuddle to survive the freezing temperatures that night.

My little friend Juana and her alpaca, Rosita

2006-07-18T11:55:00.000-04:00

IMG_4034, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The girls at Isla del Sol

2006-07-18T11:54:00.000-04:00

The girls at Isla del Sol, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The Harvard group at Isla del Sol with our friend Abby, a grad student working in La Paz for the summer. From left to right, Katia (project coordinator for our summer program), Katherine, Kristen, Denise, Abby and Christa. Shannon took the photo - so not pictured.

I spy... a llama!

2006-07-18T11:51:00.001-04:00

IMG_4041, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Little ones chasing their sheep

2006-07-18T11:51:00.000-04:00

Little ones chasing their sheep, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Donkeys with a view

2006-07-18T11:50:00.000-04:00

Donkeys with a view, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Hiking across the island

2006-07-18T11:49:00.000-04:00

Hiking across the island, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Pig 'n a Boat

2006-07-18T11:48:00.000-04:00

Pig 'n Boat, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Rose, lake, mountains

2006-07-18T11:46:00.000-04:00

IMG_4167, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Katherine and Katia mid-hike

2006-07-18T11:45:00.000-04:00

IMG_4118, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Finally off our feet at the other end of the island

2006-07-18T11:44:00.000-04:00

Finally off our feet at the other end of the island, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

We walked from the south end of the island where our hostel was to a little fishing village on the north end of the island. It is a mountainous island and we lost the trail for much of the trip so it took almost all day. We were glad to finally sit, relax and wait for a lunch of local, Lake Titicaca fried trout and some more of Bolivia's ever-present potatoes.

Pushing the baby in the wheelbarrow

2006-07-18T11:41:00.000-04:00

Pushing the baby in the wheelbarrow, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

So, we watched from a distance as these little kids put a couple of babies in the wheelbarrow and pushed it up and down the little jetty here for about 20 minutes. Then, we watched in horror as they accidentally ran the wheelbarrow into the telephone pole and dumped the wheelbarrow over, dropping the babies. We were on our feet and ready to run and dive in the lake when we realized that he'd fallen on the jetty, not in the water. All the adults watched calmly as the bigger kids picked him up and soothed his cries. The little guy was fine but our hearts were racing. I guess we Americans are a little jumpy about child safety!

Swinging

2006-07-18T11:37:00.001-04:00

Swinging, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Three Girls Playing

2006-07-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

Three Girls Playing, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Three little girls from the fishing village on the north end of the island playing at the water's edge.

Sailboat

2006-07-18T11:35:00.001-04:00

Sailboat, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Sunrise over Lago Titicaca

2006-07-18T11:35:00.000-04:00

IMG_4189, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The sun rising from the porch of our hostel. We were so grateful to see (and feel) the sun after a long, frigid night.

Joint Birthday Party

2006-07-16T15:55:00.000-04:00

I was lucky enough to have a birthday two days before one of the boys, so everyone threw us a grand fiesta. We wore silly hats, ate chicken and mashed potatoes (at our request), were served delish fruit and chocolate cakes (with an added surprise) and had a piñata. After dancing for the first hour and playing games, we ate, did the piñata, had a confetti fight, opened presents,and listened as the boys gave speaches. It was one of the best parties I've ever been to--maybe because it was especially celebrating me! No it was truly the most fun, and I felt so lucky to have such a fabulous new group of friends.

The Life of the Party!

2006-07-16T15:50:00.000-04:00

One of the boys displayed a new side of himself, dancing around and putting on quite a show for us.

Entertaining us.

2006-07-16T15:31:00.000-04:00

Some of the boys showing us traditional dances. We all took turns dancing for each other; us girls doing some salsa and clogging and the boys doing Bolivian dances.

Preparing for the inevitable.

2006-07-16T15:27:00.000-04:00

I had been warned that it was tradition to push the birthday gal or boy's face into the cake, moments after they made their wish and blew out the candles. I got myself ready for whatever was awaiting me. Look how excited the boys are!

Sucker!

2006-07-16T15:21:00.000-04:00

Apparently the birthday boy knew what was coming, so he was able to pull his head back just in time. I was not so quick and ended up with cake all over my face and head. Despite the mess I'd become, I was actually happy the boys had given me a proper initiation to a Bolivian birthday.

Setting up the Bolivian style piñata.

2006-07-16T15:13:00.000-04:00

Rather than batting away at the paper maché creations I'm used to seeing in Central American, Bolivian piñatas are just made of cardboard and have strings hanging underneath, which you pull until the suprise inside falls out.

Scavenging for the loot!

2006-07-16T15:07:00.000-04:00

Yo-yos, candy, chocolates, marbles, confetti and flour.

Confetti Fight!

2006-07-16T15:04:00.000-04:00

The boys enjoying the party.

2006-07-16T15:01:00.000-04:00

Thank you for your donation

2006-07-15T16:33:00.000-04:00

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated to our work here with street children in La Paz. We are so grateful that you have contributed to our efforts and made it possible for us to be here this summer. Also, we are still gratefully accepting donations. Just click on the button below - you can use a credit card or PayPal. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you.
Please include your shipping address on the PayPal checkout page if you would like us to mail you a receipt for your tax-deductible donation.

Saying Goodbye outside the home

2006-07-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Saying Goodbye outside the home, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Little Kitty No-Name

2006-07-15T16:26:00.002-04:00

Little Kitty No-Name, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The Cook Laughing

2006-07-15T16:26:00.001-04:00

The Cook Laughing, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Hanging out

2006-07-15T16:26:00.000-04:00

Hanging out, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Mission completed

2006-07-15T16:24:00.001-04:00

Mission completed, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Decorating his personal mission statement

2006-07-15T16:24:00.000-04:00

Decorating his personal mission statement, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

This week, we talked with the kids about goal setting and what their own goals are for the future. Then, we helped each child to write their own personal mission statement with the 5 values most important to them and how they would implement those at home, school, church and with friends.

Finding a sunny perch for the new plant

2006-07-11T13:33:00.000-04:00

Finding a new perch for his plant, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

On Fridays, we have a "Focus on the Future" activity with both homes of former street children. Building off an inspirational talk by a staff member last week about each individual's talent, skills and spiritual gifts, we chose to do an activity asking each child to think about their own talents and how to nuture those. Then we gave each one his own pot and a flower to plant in it - along with instructions for how to care for it. The boys LOVED it and were very pleased to each have a plant of their own. Here one of the boys is on the ledge outside his room, looking for a good sunny spot for his plant because we told him they love sun! We did our best to find hardy specimens to survive La Paz's extreme, high altitude climate.

Showing off their new plants

2006-07-11T13:24:00.000-04:00

Showing off their new plants, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The boys were so proud of their plants - it was very sweet to see. In the background, you can see all their laundry drying in the courtyard of the home. Thursday is washing day and they spend a busy afternoon scrubbing and then hanging their clothes to dry.

The group with their plants

2006-07-11T13:22:00.000-04:00

The group with their plants, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Kids in the Puerta del Sol (Door of the Sun)

2006-07-11T13:21:00.000-04:00

Kids in the Puerta del Sol, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Here is a view through the Puerta del Sol of one of the boys with the daughter of the house parents. See below for more information on Tiwanaku and our visit there.

In front of the Puerta del Sol

2006-07-11T13:18:00.000-04:00

In front of the Puerta del Sol, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The Puerta del Sol is one of Tiwanaku's most important objects. At the solstice (see photos of our visit on the solstice below in blog) the sun rises directly in the center of the blog and the markings seem to represent some sort of calendar. Here is one of the staff members and a boy from one of the homes.

The group at Tiwanaku

2006-07-11T13:12:00.000-04:00

The group at Tiwanaku, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Our Harvard group decided to take all the boys from both homes on a field trip to Tiwanaku. Tiwanaku is an important pre-Columbian archaeological site about 75 km from La Paz. It is recognized as a precursor to the Incan empire. Tiwanaku was founded in approximately 200 BC on what is now the borderlands between Bolivia and Peru in the high altitude basin near the shores of Lake Titicaca. The agricultural residents of Tiwanaku developed a complex system of terraced, irrigated fields and canals that allowed the population to flourish.
We thought it would be a great experience for the boys to see firsthand the site of an ancient civilization in their own country. A Harvard archaeologist working at the site was kind enough to lead us on a tour of the site.

An Archaeology Lesson

2006-07-09T22:15:00.000-04:00

Before a field trip to Tiwanaku (ruins of ancient civilization) outside of La Paz, we put together a lesson about important archaeological sites around the world and Tiwanaku. Then, we headed outside to dig in an excavation site that we had planted with "ancient" finds. The boys then patched back together the broken pottery and we discussed the implications of an ancient society with artifacts including Canadian pennies, glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs and shards of terracotta piggy-banks! The boys had a great, but dirty, day!

Powerpoint Presentation on Archaeology

2006-07-09T22:08:00.000-04:00

Powerpoint Presentation on Archaeology, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Did you find anything?

2006-07-09T22:07:00.000-04:00

Did you find anything?, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Starting to dig

2006-07-09T22:03:00.000-04:00

Starting to dig, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Digging for treasure

2006-07-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

Digging, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Ancient finds - broken pottery and glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs

2006-07-09T21:59:00.000-04:00

Ancient finds - broken pottery and glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Look what I found!

2006-07-09T21:58:00.000-04:00

Look what I found!, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Checking out their finds

2006-07-09T21:56:00.000-04:00

Checking out their finds, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Piecing the "ancient" pottery together again

2006-07-09T21:51:00.000-04:00

Piecing the "ancient" pottery together again, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Rally with flags

2006-07-06T12:29:00.000-04:00

Rally with flags, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

A political rally just days before the big July 2nd election for representatives to write a new constitution for Bolivia. The multicolored flag represents the various indigenous peoples of South America and the blue, white and black flag is for the MAS political party.
I found an interesting article that gives a pretty good overview of the situation and the results of the July 2nd referendum - http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1102AP_Bolivia_Referendum.html

Political Rally just before Elections

2006-07-06T12:25:00.000-04:00

Political Rally just before Elections, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Evo's Rally

2006-07-06T12:21:00.000-04:00

Evo's Rally, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Current president Evo Morales' smiling mug over the rally for his political party - MAS - Movimiento al Socialismo. The rally was held just before the July 2nd referendum.

Katherine and MAS guy dancing

2006-07-06T12:19:00.000-04:00

Katherine and MAS guy dancing, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

We were watching the rally when a group of MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo) government officials pulled us into their dancing. We each took turns alternately spinning in circles and discussing the current state of politics in Bolivia with these guys.

Rally scene

2006-07-06T12:15:00.000-04:00

Rally scene, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Night market scene

2006-07-06T12:14:00.000-04:00

Night market scene, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The rally was a big party and everyone was out on the streets.

Your support is welcome

2006-07-03T18:23:00.000-04:00

Bolivian Street Children Project

Please include your shipping address on the PayPal checkout page if you would like us to mail you a receipt for your tax-deductible donation.

Picnic Photos

2006-07-03T18:15:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures from last weekend's picnic at Valle de la Luna, a park just outside of La Paz.

Picnic at Valle de la Luna

2006-07-03T18:13:00.000-04:00

Boys at Valle de La Luna

2006-07-03T18:10:00.000-04:00

Valle de la Luna

2006-07-03T18:05:00.000-04:00

Soccer Game

2006-07-03T17:59:00.000-04:00

Looking good!

2006-07-03T17:41:00.000-04:00

Road block and protest

2006-07-01T14:17:00.000-04:00

Road block and protest, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

On our way to one of the homes for former street children on the other side of La Paz, all traffic stopped at a protest that had blocked the road. Apparently, no one really knows what the protest was about - it appears that these folks wanted a road made and were chanting "Que queremos? - Asphalt!" ("What do we want? - Asphalt!)

Andrea and Shannon at Tiwanaku

2006-06-24T19:05:00.000-04:00

Andrea and Shannon at Tiwanaku, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

Andrea and I decided to go to the Tiwanaku solstice celebration that marks the Aymara (indigenous culture here in Bolivia) New Year. To get there, we rented a taxi (the driver only got lost a couple of times!) and had to leave our apartment at 3 am to get there in time. We waited with thousands of others in the dark and cold before being treated to an amazing traditional ceremony greeting the sun and a visit from Bolivia's president. See below for photos of an amazing day! Tomorrow, I will post some photos of our first days with the kids from the two homes where we will be working!

Pathway to Tiwanaku Ruins

2006-06-24T19:01:00.000-04:00

Pathway to Tiwanaku Ruins, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

In the dark and wrapped in blankets against the piercing air, we followed this path of fire pots to the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku to wait for the solsctice ceremony to begin.

Soldier, Flag and Aymara Mystics

2006-06-24T19:00:00.000-04:00

Soldier, Flag and Aymara Mystics, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

It was really dark and REALLY cold before dawn as we waited for the sun to rise and the ceremony to begin. You can just make out the blurred shadows of a soldier's helmet, a colorful patchwork flag that celebrates South American indigenous cultures and a group of robed Aymara pilgrims.

President Evo Morales in Aymara Ceremony

2006-06-24T18:57:00.000-04:00

President Evo Morales in Aymara Ceremony, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

The Prez gets down with Aymara traditions!

Greeting the sun

2006-06-24T18:56:00.000-04:00

Greeting the sun, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

As part of the ceremony, when the sun crests the mountains to start the new year on the morning of the solstice, the priest leads people in a prayer and invites everyone to greet the sun with open hands.

Evo's chopper

2006-06-24T18:55:00.000-04:00

Evo's chopper, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.

We were all pretty stunned when Bolivia's president Evo Morales showed up for the ceremony by helicopter. When he left, he flew over the mountains you see in the background and then came back and circled Tiwanaku, waving at people from the open door, colorful Aymara robes still clearly visible!

Evo waving to the people

2006-06-24T18:53:00.001-04:00

Evo waving to the people, originally uploaded by shannonshaper.