Our plan in Bolivia

Plan is working at the grassroots level in Bolivia to help communities make real and lasting change, so that their children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Plan has worked in Bolivia (population 9 million) in South America since 1969 and currently has programs in over 1000 communities which aim to address the following issues affecting children:

• Low participation of children in decision-making processes
• Poor access to child and maternal health care
• Limited access to quality primary school education
• Low family income
• Disease resulting from poor water access and sanitation practices

Plan's programs and strategies to address these issues include:

Child participation

Traditionally, children, teenagers and women are excluded from participating in community governance in Bolivia. The social governance in favour of children and adolescents program aims to give children and young people in particular, a voice in their community's democratic processes. It also strengthens organised groups of children, young people and women so they can improve their participation in rights-based activities.

Child and maternal health care

In Bolivia, children under six are exposed to many diseases and pregnant women are at risk of complications or death during pregnancy, birth and post-delivery. The healthy and happy children and mothers program incorporates neonatal, infant and maternal health care; and home-based and center-based early childhood care and development which improves child survival, development and growth, and improves the health and well being of their mothers.

Primary school education

Many schools in Bolivia lack resources, trained teachers and a relevant curriculum but Planâ#€#™#s learning for life program is providing children aged six to fourteen years with a quality education that also promotes child rights. The program provides technical advice on quality learning to student organisations, the education system and local government.

Family income

Low family income has the greatest impact on children and their mothers. In addition, women often have no say in the use of household income and in their reproductive rights for family planning. However, Plan deciding our lives program is giving families diverse income-generating opportunities that include women and young people in the decision-making process.

Water, sanitation and disease prevention

Planâ#€#™#s managing a healthy environment  program provides access to clean drinking water, proper sanitation and control and prevention of diseases like diarrhea, parasites and the beetle-carried Chagas disease. The program builds the capacities of children, families and community organisations to ensure home and community spaces are maintained.

Country Facts

Country	Bolivia	Australia
Flag
Population	9 Million	21 Million
Language	Spanish	English
Capital	Sucre	Canberra
GDP per capita (USD/year)	974	$37,300
Life expectancy	64.4	81.5
Access to safe drinking water	85%	100%
Literacy	86.7%	100%
Source:	United Nations: Millennium Development Goals Report 2006