Through the programme long established and conducted by Plan International, the Rotary Club of Burlington Central sponsors Mariela Miranda Marisol. Mariela is 6 years old and lives in Santa Ana Nueva, Bolivia. The office of Plan International reports the following about Mariela.
Birthdate 21 Sept. 1991. She is Christian, and lives with her mother, Pastora Valdez, (age 39) father Eulogio Miranda (41). She has 2 sisters and one brother ages 14,13, &12.
Mariela is developing normally, and is in
good health at present.. The family lives in a small 3 room house
made of sun-dried clay brick and a dirt floor. They cook with
wood and obtain their daily water from natural sources. Human
waste is disposed of in an open field.
Father Eulogia earns about C$60. per month from his small farm.
Mariela's siblings Wilfredo (14), Yaneth (13) & Enilda (12) all attend elementary school. Mariela does not attend school.
In terms of sanitation and a better quality of life the family has benefited from the construction of a public water system and water tanks and distribution service. In addition the community of Santa Ana Nueva has participated in educational programmes and has benefited from the training of community leaders and teachers.
The community of Santa Ana Nueva is located in the basin of
the Santa Ana river within the Cercado province. A total of 28
rural communities with a population of 6600 are a part of the
basin, and are considered as one of the poorest rural areas in
the Department of Tarija.
24% of the population migrate to to other urban or rural sites due to drought and lack of irrigation. Farm productivity is low, and poverty the norm. Wheat, corn and potatoes constitute the main crops and these are cultivated against great odds.
Only primary schools exist, and four health posts provide first aid assistance. People speak Spanish, but illiteracy rates are high.
In general people start the day early. Men cultivate the land, and women do the house work and help their husbands in the fields. Children attend school where available and help with household chores such as taking care of younger siblings , feeding animals, fetching water, and gathering wood.. Children's help is also essential during harvest and planting seasons. (Is this the simpler life that many of us yearn for?)
Bolivia is the fifth largest country in South America. It is landlocked, bordered by Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. It has a population of about 6.5 million.