Bolivia > Puerto Camacho > Residents
Faviola Mamani Laura, 15, lives with three of her seven siblings, but without
her parents. The four children live in a small house with water and light, but
no toilet or bathroom. Faviola and her younger sister share a bed. Her parents,
who work in farming and bricklaying, live in another part of El Alto with the
rest of her siblings. They work seven days a week so Faviola does not see them
often.
As the oldest girl in the house, Faviola is responsible for taking care
of the rest of her siblings. She walks two kilometers to buy food and cooks.
Apart from going to school and buying necessities, Faviola and her siblings
rarely leave the house. They don’t feel safe in the streets due to the thieves
in the area.
In the week, Faviola wakes up at 5.30am to prepare the lunch for her
siblings before leaving for school without breakfast. The lunch is soup,
containing vegetables, potatoes and rice or noodles. If she eats in the evening,
it is the same soup. She goes to bed, tired from the day, at around 11.30pm.
Faviola’s work continues through the weekend. She helps her mother
caring for the cows and her father bricklaying, taking a small break on Sundays
for church. Unlike many in her situation, Faviola already has a vision. She
dreams of becoming an architect and having a better future.
However without the right support and opportunities to develop, this
will remain nothing more than a dream. However with the right encouragement and
support, this dream could become a reality; Faviola could break the poverty
cycle and go on to support a family of her own. Our aim is to provide such
support, so that people like Faviola can achieve their dreams of a better life.