This is a government run and funded orphanage, housing approximately 80 children, ages ranging from 0-16 years. The children live in 5 houses, approximately 15 children in each. There is one woman employed in each house to take care of the children. Each house has an eating area, sleeping area, bathroom and living area. None of the houses have running water.
When Tessa arrived there in July, 2008, a previous German volunteer had recently set up a ‘pre-school’ area, La Escuelita de la Bienvenida, to provide the youngest children, who don’t attend school, with an educational atmosphere. Here they are provided with the mental stimulation they were not getting before, thus preparing them for school. This is where the volunteers are mainly situated.
However, the orphanage is still in need of help. Not only do they need more staff to care for the children on a permanent basis, they also need money to fund a new water system, new clothes, medical supplies, and other basic necessities to improve the general health and wellbeing of these wonderful children. There are constant waves of head lice and the hygiene conditions are very poor, which means the children are constantly getting sick. The lack of staff and constant change of administration means that these children have no steady ongoing support and care. Their development is way behind that of normal children.
The Water System Project (El Proyecto del Sistema de Agua)
For the past few years the water system at the Ciudadela has been deteriorating. Now it is at the point where there is no running water to any of the houses that the children live in, and the water that comes out of the taps in the rest of the centre is black and contains unsafe chemicals. Tia International Aid has partenered up with Projects Abroad and German based organisation Escuelita Cochabamba to replace the entire water system and provide clean running water to all of the houses and buildings within the centre.
The first stage of the project is underway currently, with all the pipes being checked and replaced where necessary. Once this is done, a well will be dug to approximately 60 metres depth.
Once completed, the health of the children at the centre is expected to improve dramatically.
This is quite a costly project and any financial assistance will be a huge help. To donate, simply go to the donate tab at the top of this page where you are able to donate securely online via PayPal. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this project, please email tessa.henwood-mitchell@tia.org.au.