Katie Harkness

Ø      Location: Cochabamba, Bolivia

Ø History: The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul began Amanecer in 1981 in response to the growing numbers of children on the street.  Unemployed miners were immigrating into the city at the time due to poor economic conditions.  Alcoholism and domestic abuse statistics rose.  In response, increasingly large numbers of children were either abandoned or ran away from home to end up on the streets.  Amanecer offers aid to children from the time they are infants to when they turn eighteen as well as mothers.  As of now Amanecer runs eight homes, each with slightly different characteristics. 

ØVision/Objective: “The protection and defense of the basic rights of children of both sexes that live on the streets of the city.  The program is intended to promote their physical, intellectual, spiritual and social development with the aim of eventually reintegrating them into society with increased self-respect and the ability to maintain themselves economically.”  Amanecer begins by providing the children with a safe environment and then equipping them with education and job training.

ØEducation/Training:  A school is run for children who are behind their “normal” grade level and for those whose parents are in jail.  Older children in the program have the opportunity to learn a trade such as metal work, electrical work, construction, plumbing or carpentry.  Amanecer currently has over twenty donated computers of varying ages on which volunteers train the children in computer skills such as word processing.

ØOther Services:  Amanecer provides dental and medical services to the children in the program and other street children who are not officially participating.

ØRecruitment: The Amanecer staff goes on  twice weekly night visits to the slums of the city in order to hand out cookies and warm milk and hopefully recruit children for the program.

ØSponsorship of the Program:  Volunteers, donations, and grants from public agencies.  Amanecer seeks donors who will pay $25 a month to educate and care for a child as well as writing notes and sending gifts on Christmas and the child’s birthday for children between the ages of six and sixteen.  Since Amanecer does not believe in fund raising or any programs which would divert funds away from the children, it must rely upon the donations of individuals.  As of now the organization only uses 10% of it’s donated money for operating expenses.