THE FAMILY

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 19^th 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.

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!