Bolivia
In a population of 10 million, about 4 million Bolivians live below the national poverty line. The percentage is higher in rural areas, where three out of four people live in poverty. In indigenous communities, women and young people are particularly vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.
Although it is a lower-middle-income country, Bolivia has significant income inequality between different population groups and geographic areas. The country ranks 118th out of 187 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index.
Program Overview
Five Talents has worked with Seeds of Blessing in Bolivia since 2009 to reach out to families living in extreme poverty. Seeds of Blessing helps vulnerable families restore relationships and fight against poverty by helping them recover their dignity and become protagonists in their own development. The program facilitates small businesses development through community financial services and business skills training in Tarija and its surrounding communities.
Participants join small savings groups and receive training in budgeting, saving, cost of credit, business planning, nutrition and discipleship. They also learn how to invest and grow their businesses. With their savings and loans, Seeds of Blessing clients are able to improve their businesses and cover their basic food, health, education, housing, and business needs. Currently over 250 families are members and 75% describe the biggest changes in their lives as having savings and being brave enough to improve their lives.
Training Focus
Budgeting and saving in the household
Business ideas, planning, marketing, price setting
Christian discipleship and values in business
Preventative health, appropriate technology where there are no basic services, nutrition classes
Partners
Semillas de Bendicion (Seeds of Blessings), Tarija, Bolivia
Anglican Diocese of Bolivia
Association of Evangelical Churches of Tarija
The Community
Five Talents ministry in Bolivia is focused on rural communities in the mountains of southwest Bolivia. The Department of Tarija is home to 20 different indigenous tribes with Spanish being the shared language. The city of Tarija is located in a high and dry mountain valley at an altitude of 1850 meters.
Women in these communities are primarily engaged in work on family farms, with limited access to financial, health or education services. On average, rural women only attend a few years of school. Seasonal migration among the men is very high which leaves women, in many of the cases, as heads of the household. Based on group survey results, the average Five Talents member is in her 40's, has a primary school education, and will describe herself as a housewife. More than 30% are not able to buy a minimum food basket to feed their family. The average initial loan of $14 USD reflects success in our effort to reach the most disadvantaged with appropriate levels of credit and extensive training.
Empowering the citizens of Tarija with business and personal finance skills are essential aspects of stimulating economic growth and improving unemployment. This partnership focuses on women’s groups in the city of Tarija as well as groups in rural communities, including El Puente, Entre Rios, Calamuchita Valle Concepción, and Cochabamba.
With their savings and loans, Seeds of Blessing clients are able to improve their businesses and cover their basic food, health, education, housing, and business needs.
The Need
In the next year, we hope to expand outreach in the Tarija area to reach new communities. There are also ongoing needs for staff, training, and mentoring of savings group leaders.
We'd appreciate your continued prayers for this small but transformative program. Please help us expand our work in Bolivia either by making a one-time donation or by signing up to "Walk with Us" as a recurring donor. A monthly gift of as little as $10 will transform up to five lives: