High in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia,
in a rural province of Potosí, flows a river -- the Tomoyo. The Tomoyo runs near small and desolated villages like, Chua Chua, Molle Molle, Yoroca, Sorojchi y Sorocoto. For many generations, the inhabitants of this region have identified themselves as Quechuas. Women and men have vigorously fought in an environment with difficult conditions growing corn, faba beans and potatoes. Though the region was blessed with the river, having access to water presented various limitations that required the implementation of an irrigation system in rough mountain terrain.

The region of Tomoyo lacked an irrigation system that would have provided economical sustainability as well as water for consumption. The situation caused harvest cycles to gradually decline each season, limiting production, and also negatively affected food availability, especially children suffering from symptoms of malnutrition.

As a result, the authorities and leaders of the communities of Molle Molle, Sorojchi, Yoroca and Tomoyo contacted FH Bolivia with various irrigation proposals. The proposals were so varied and far-reaching that many thought the ideas were nearly impossible. After a coordinating process with the local authorities and FH Bolivia staff, a consensus was reached: canals would be constructed, connecting the producers and the natural current of the River Tomoyo. The most important part of the project was the construction of this canal system, which would serve to benefit agricultural production, but principally serve to provide water for the families.

The communities mobilized themselves to excavate land and construct terraces for their crops. With the help of the US Agency for International Development, FH Bolivia and community members did what seemed impossible. The project has brought water to arid lands, transforming more than 540 hectares ( 1,335 acres ) of useless or marginal land into fertile and productive land, and has transformed lives. One life that has been changed is Mariano Choque.

Mariano is the head of a large family, and as a farmer did not own land to meet his family's needs. He constantly confronted his family's need for food by working hard on other people's land. With the help of FH Bolivia, Mariano was able to obtain a piece of land, but it was not arable, due to its overuse. To some, this gift of land seemed almost like a cruel joke. "What good is land if you can't grow crops?" they asked. But as a result of the new irrigation canals, Mariano was able to rehabilitate his land. He received technical assistance to build terraces and learned how to use organic fertilizer for his parcels of land. Now, he is growing grains and vegetables to feed his family.

"Before now, it was very painful for many of us. We didn’t have anything. Many times we went without eating and now, as a result of this project we can plant, eat and sell our products. As a result, we have money. Before, this land was useless because it was all rocks. But now that we have built terraces and have fertilized the land, we have a great crop yield and we reap the rewards. We’ve already planted wheat and faba beans and when we harvest the faba beans, we will plant onions. My family would like to thank FH Bolivia, because before now we worked very hard without water and without any profit. We are happy to be able to see this great work. My irrigation sprinklers are working well and all of this is for our good…for the poor and for all of us. This land is once again fertile for me and my family. Thank You."

WHERE

+ Democratic Republic
-- of Congo
+ Ethiopia
+ Kenya
+ Rwanda
+ Uganda

+ FH HISTORY:

FH began operations in Bolivia in 1978 with a Child Sponsorship Program employing a staff of less than ten people. In 1983, when Bolivia was among the countries affected by the “El Niño” drought, FH was one of the organizations asked to participate in the relief efforts. Today, FH has several programs and a staff size of more than 180 people.

Currently, FH reaches more than 250 communities in some of the poorest and most food-insecure rural areas of Bolivia. We work to help communities counter the multidimensional causes and manifestations of poverty by enhancing their quality of life.

FH’s work is done in a number of zones based out of the two regional offices in Sucre and Cochabamba city. These teams are made up of individuals drawn together towards a common goal: to transform the realities of whole communities “… until physical and spiritual hungers ended worldwide”. Team members live twenty days in the communities each month, and most speak the local languages of Quechua or Aymara. Programs are not seen as an end in themselves but as a means—a vehicle through which participant community members learn to devise solutions and orchestrate activities that benefit the community.

+ BOLIVIA'S HISTORY:

In the 15th century the Incas conquered Bolivia followed closely in 1533 by a conquest by the Spanish. The Spaniards, whose main interest was precious metals, discovered rich silver deposits in a mountain at the foot of which they founded the settlement of Potosi in 1544. By the end of the sixteenth century, Potosi had a population of 120,000, the largest urban center in South America. It held its position throughout the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, when its population exceeded 160,000. Potosi was preceded by Chuqisaca, later renamed Sucre, which was founded in 1538 and later became the administrative capital of the Spanish colonial rule.

Other Spanish settlements followed, including La Paz (1548), Cochabamba (1574), and Oruro (1604). Alto Peru (Upper Peru), as Bolivia was known during the period of Spanish rule.

Independence was declared in 1825 by an assembly, which met in Chuqisaca (Sucre). General Antonio Jose de Sucre, who, in command of Colombian troops, played a leading role in the defeat of the Spanish garrison, and was elected as the first president. A long period of internal struggle and instability followed with dictators, mainly military, ruling the country.

In 1952 a revolutionary party (Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario MNR) seized control of the government. This led to the expropriation of the mines by the state and to agrarian reform, by which the large estates were divided among former tenants and peasants. Before the MNR was deposed by the army in 1964, the MNR introduced far-reaching economic and social changes. Over the next 25 years (1964-1989) Bolivia had 19 presidents (13 were generals), with only two completing a full term in office.

In 2005 left-wing Evo Morales was elected president with plans to nationalise industry. Today Bolivia remains a poor country but is rich in resources.

+ FACTS:

+Domestic violence is widespread and often unreported – and when it is reported, results in only a few days in jail and a small fine.

+ 800,000 children work in Bolivia, many on the streets.

+ 3) The highest natural lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, is in Bolivia. And the capitol city of La Paz, Bolivia is the capitol of the highest altitude in the world.

+ 4) Bolivia is South America’s most indigenous country, with over 60% of the population claiming indigenous heritage, including Aymará, Quechua, Guaraní and over 30 other ethnic groups.

+ 5) Bolivia boasts the beauty of the Andes Mountain range, the high altitude Altiplano plateau, the highlands and the lowlying areas surrounding the Amazon Basin.

+ Facts From: UNICEF, Lonely Planet

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