In a remote lowland village surrounded by trees and expansive green fields, resides the ninth NPH home, Casa Padre Wasson. The Bolivian family began in April 2005 at a small home in Santa Cruz. Now it has expanded to their own property on the countryside with 12 family-style homes that house almost 120 children (five homes for boys, five for girls and one for the babies) and four additional houses that host volunteers and employees. Since Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, NPH is eager to grow and offer protection and family strengthening services to children in need.
In 2008, the NPH family moved from Santa Cruz to our current home. Six houses hosted the children and staff at this time. Two more homes were constructed in 2010 to receive new family members. Construction of a community clinic and four classrooms for primary students were completed in 2013. In addition three houses for volunteers, visitors and staff members were built till 2014. In the following year, a second school building, baby house and a house for the older girls was added. In 2016, a fish farm was successfully completed and the milking cow project is currently in progress in order to provide our children with our own milk and dairy products.
NPH Bolivia is fortunate to be near the community of Portachuelo, where our secondary children attend school. The home is proud to have eight university students (three males and five female) who are living in Santa Cruz and return to NPH on the weekends and during their vacation. Being the newest NPH home, the family is still working on many projects. Creating a sustainable agriculture and animal production project is one goal. This would grant the home more independence of the high food prices and these programs help to involve youths in the production and planning process. NPH Bolivia is led by National Director Tom Kuiper and employees 47 local staff.
Milestones
2005: | Home opened in Santa Cruz with a family of six children | 2007: | Construction began at new home site, Casa Padre Wasson | 2008: | Six houses and dining hall were completed | | Family moved to new location with 50 children | 2009: | First three pequeños graduated from high school | 2010: | Two more homes were constructed | 2011: | National Director house was constructed | | Home population reach 100 children | | First three pequeños began university | 2012: | Baby house was constructed | | Vegetable garden and livestock program began | 2013: | Opening of school, clinic and volunteer house | 2014: | Visitor’s and caregiver house slated to be completed | 2015: | Construction of two children’s homes | | Development of milking cows project | 2016: | Completed fish cultivation project | | Expansion and inauguration of second school building | 2017: | Kitchen renovation Increased production of fish and crops
|
|
|