Many of you already know about the work
that Vida Y Esperanza is doing in Cochabamba Bolivia with at risk youth with
their Equine Assisted Therapy Program. This particular part of the
program is designed to assist adolescents in crisis by addressing a number of
mental health issues; behavioral problems, lack of self-esteem, post-traumatic
stress disorder, and anxiety, all issues which often end in drug and alcohol
abuse in the urban environment. The program works with 10-15 youth, training
them in the care of horses and horseback riding, while providing a safe
alternative space to the streets.
Today we are blogging to tell you about 4
of the boys in the program. In 2011 two brothers Rodrigo (12) and Ariel (10)
came to Vida y Esperanza to participate in the lunch tutoring program after
they were referred by the director of their school. After assessing their
living situation and the risks facing them from exposure to drugs and violence they
became a part of the Equine Assisted Therapy Program that Vida y Esperanza has
been running since 2007.
Rodrigo (now 16) and Ariel (14) soon
became an integral part of the program. Since then they have become
accomplished riders and hard workers caring for the 10 to 14 horses that make
up the program. After a time we learned they have 2 younger brothers, Jamil
(11) and Miquel (9) and they lived with their mother in a rented room nearby
the horse pasture. Their mother worked selling bread from a wheelbarrow in the
large market several kilometers from their room and was rarely home. Jamil spent his days at a traffic light doing
handstands for spare change, and Miguel spent his days alone in the rented room waiting for his brothers to return.
On May 27, 2014 tragedy struck when their mother was hit by a car. She was in a coma for several weeks, then
regained consciousness for a few weeks (but never spoke again), and then on
July 19th her heart gave out and she died leaving the children
orphans. As no relatives immediately
came forward to take care of the boys Jose Luis stepped in to the role of
guardian. He found them a rented room 2 blocks from his house where they could sleep
and shower. They eat and do their homework at his house under the guidance of
his sisters and nephews and the four boys have become part of their extended
family.
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| Miguel, Ariel, Jose Luis, Rodrigo and Jamil |
Giving them the love, security and guidance
they need has proven challenging for Jose Luis but he is very certain that they
are now part of his heart. The harder part has been the financial strain of
raising 4 kids. Jose Luis convinced a local school to give the boys free
tuition if they can keep their grades up, a local priest bought their school
books and neighbors donated furniture but he still spends more than $500/month
out of his pocket. The bulk of this is for the room and utilizes $88, food
$416, and school expenses $80.
In order to defray these basic costs we
are looking for “god parents” who will pledge to donate money every month that
can be used for these basic expenses. Any
amount is a great help and to make it easy you can set it up as a direct
deposit into my account every month.
So please consider giving $10 or $20 or
$50 a month to help these four boys.
To set up monthly payment or make a donation we are using an account in
the US OR use the DONATE button to the right.
Bank of America
Name of Account Holder: Lee Cridland
Checking Account number: 009380862999
Routing # 021000322
Swift Code:
BOFAUF3N
Thank you!!!!!
Jose Luis, Jamil, Rodrigo, Ariel and
Miguel!
