Celebrating 25 years of Red Viva Bolivia!
Red Viva Bolivia has helped thousands of children by training child protection officers, providing holistic care for children living and working on the streets and teaching children to share about their rights via the Good Treatment Campaign, now used by Viva internationally. We celebrate with them as they mark 25 years of serving children. (Photos are from Red Bolivia Facebook).
Ines, Red Viva Bolivia
Speaking with Ines, who has been involved with Red Bolivia for each of those 25 years, is incredibly uplifting. Her passion, dedication, and commitment to churches working together for the good of children shines out in all she says. A psychologist by profession with an adult son and one grandchild, Ines was born in La Paz but has lived in many different cities in Bolivia. This gives her a unique understanding of the various cultures and people that fill this beautiful Latin American country of around 12 million people and has also helped her excel in her work of bringing churches and organisations together in a network such as Red Bolivia.
Ines was first introduced to Viva in 1999 during a World Weekend of Prayer initiative. She was working with street-connected children and realised that “we needed to do something for them – not just one organisation – but more people.” Four projects came together to pray with and for children, and later that year, Viva Red Bolivia was born. Later, they decided that 20 November, World Children’s Day, which marks the adoption of the Convention of the Rights of the Child, was a suitable anniversary date. Though Viva Bolivia marks a special anniversary this year - 25 years - Ines’ zeal remains as strong as ever: “This is the solution. I need to work in this way. It’s the solution. All people work together for the children.”
Ines has been involved in various roles over the years, including being a project network coordinator, Viva Consultant for the Regional Centre for Latin America and Caribbean and Director. She has met various Viva leaders and has been involved in many activities in Bolivia and the UK. A key moment in Bolivia was in 2005 when there was a large meeting sponsored by Tearfund UK that brought different groups working with children together. This raised the profile of churches as active participants in helping children, as previously, there were many known non-government organisations but few Christian ones. Thematic groups were formed, and networks were established in five cities.
Amongst many highlights over 25 years, Ines mentions three in particular. Firstly, she is grateful that as the churches come together, their genuine concern for each other has helped create real relationships with people, not just co-workers or network partners: “We are building a big family.” A second highlight has been how the church has been brought to the table in the developing world . “The church now had a voice amongst the partners…. There used to be only government projects. For example, in Oruro, there were few initiatives focusing on children, and Viva inspired the local networks. Now, there are 17 Christian projects supported by churches.” Some, like Compassion, already did some work, but the networks helped the church to be introduced to advocacy projects and be seen to have a role. Thirdly, she delights in seeing young adults who were once children still playing a part as they form a new kind of network as young professionals still with an interest in helping children.
Something that Ines values about Viva is its global reach. She appreciates that Viva can “bring experience from one country to another. Viva has the capacity to connect people from different places. Viva knows the needs of different countries and can present to different donors.”
Things in Red Viva Bolivia are sometimes difficult, with financial strains a constant challenge for the past few years. Ines is grateful for the people in Viva who encourage her and pray with her. She feels that “though sometimes I feel it is finishing – God always says no – wait. There is a promise from Haggai 2:9: ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty.’ God will do something again in Viva Boliva – may be in a different way. Times have changed. But I KNOW that God will do something in Red Viva Bolivia.”
In addition to marking their 25th anniversary through social media on 20th December, Ines and other key network members will also have a special dinner in the third week of December, which is a better time for most of those who desire to celebrate this great milestone together.
As she prays and waits to see what God will do in future, Ines knows she still has a role to play but recognises that it may change. She wants to help new leaders take on the mantle and continue the work, offering more protection to children and giving them a chance to participate. “Children are the last persons that are supported. (But through Red Viva Bolivia), children were introduced as a priority. Viva is very big in my heart. The first organisation that received my dreams for my children and my country.”