Week 2: Bolivia

Bolivia is one of Latin America’s least developed countries Around 30% of the population survive on less than $2/day.

Potosi, Bolivia

When Edson was a child living in the Bolivian town of Potosí, he dreamed that one day he would be able to set up a circus run by children and young people. He dreamed it would be: a place where they would not be exploited, but valued; a place where they could learn not only reading and writing, but how to work together and build a brighter future.

Edson’s dream became a reality, and today 250 young people are involved in Centro Creativo Artistico educar es fiesta (Education is Celebration), a Caritas Australia partner program. Edson and his team have a centre in Ushpa Ushpa, near Cochabamba, an area chosen because of its high numbers of parentless and poor children.

The team travels around in a colourful open-topped bus (nicknamed La Chiva, or “The Goat”), promoting the program and their circus performances.

Over the years, 1,500 children aged 7-18 have taken part. In 2009, Caritas helped Centro Creativo Artistico educar es fiesta to buy their own Big Top, and in 2011 the circus performed to 25,000 people.

Edson says that hundreds of children are now living more positive lives, with increased self-esteem, awareness of their rights, knowledge of their dignity and ability to express themselves.

Raymundo ‘Coco the Clown’ Raymundo is one of those children. Raymundo joined Centro Creativo Artistico educar es fiesta when he was nine years old. This is his story of how the circus – and being ‘Coco the Clown’ – has turned his life around.

Before joining Centro Creativo Artistico educar es fiesta, Raymundo was working hard washing cars and carrying water, to earn some money for his family, who were very poor.

When some of his friends started to attend Centro Creativo Artistico educar es fiesta, Raymundo went along to be with them. But when he saw street theatre, he began to see new possibilities for his life. A few months later, the circus performed in the plaza at Cochabamba – with Raymundo as the clown!

Raymundo worked hard. He graduated from high school and went on to study for a degree in Performing Arts. Now, as the final part of his qualification, he is doing a year’s social service at Centro Creativo Artistico educar es fiesta, teaching circus skills to other children. They know him as ‘Coco the Clown’.

“My wish for the kids is that no one is poor. We as Bolivians and Australians have the opportunity to work together to create new paths with Caritas Australia… You and I need to work together, however we can do it!”

Join us in Project Compassion: Let’s work together for justice and a brighter world.

Picture credits Richard Wainwright Map (Slides 3 and 4): Google Maps - ©2012 Google