THE CHALLENGE

Bolivia is a landlocked and isolated country in South America. With a population of approximately 11,306,341 (July 2018 est.) and an economy of $37.78 billion (2017 est.), this Country has one of the highest indigenous (66.2%) and rural populations (31.5%) of the continent (National Institute of Statistics, INE). Despite general human development improvements in the past decade, 45% of the population still lives below the poverty line. Today, many families in rural areas do not have access to clean water and sanitation facilities. More than a million people in these areas still rely on contaminated water from rivers and lakes. In general, these rural communities are confronted every day with the prospect of becoming unsustainable due to the absence of freshwater and the effects of climate change on water availability. These circumstances threaten the health and wellbeing of community residents. According to UNICEF, almost 90% of child deaths from diarrheal diseases are directly linked to contaminated water, lack of sanitation, and/or inadequate hygiene. In Bolivia, diarrhea is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age (sources: Pan American Health Organization).

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We have an exciting challenge – a matching donation from a loyal QBL/U4C donor who will match your contribution to U4C Water4All QBL up to $15,000. That $30,000 funding level will allow us to implement a water project and provide sanitation training as well as COVID-19 prevention campaigns in the villages of Calacruzani and Parcocota (Coro Coro), impacting the lives of approximately 80 people (26 families) directly and 180 families indirectly.  Please maintain your support for this good work in the altiplano: together with our QBL-UK friends and the staff and Board in La Paz (Fundacion QBL) we can continue this vital assistance. As your read about the experience of Nilda Condori (longtime FQBL financial administrator) and her family as they battled with Covid-19 you can see the impact that clean water and food security can have on a country like Bolivia.