Quaker Bolivia Link

Quaker Bolivia Link works alongside the indigenous Andean people. We bring community development programs to some of the poorest rural communities in South America

Where is Bolivia?

Why is Bolivia so poor? Bolivia has no access to the ocean. Imported goods are therefore expensive. It has no sea port to export its products. It is dominated by the Andes Mountains. Until the 8os its government was unstable with numerous coups. There was little investment in infrastructure and education. Bolivia is playing catch up.

Since 1995 we have designed and installed 67 village water supply systems. Over 500 families are now growing healthy veg in their QBL greenhouses.

QBL supports the indigenous Andean culture

Life is hard on the Altiplano over 12,000 feet above sea level. The plots in the background have to lie fallow for seven years before another crop of potatoes is planted. QBL water supplies and greenhouses make a significant difference to communities like this.

We work in some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

Reaching QBL project villages

Behind Bolivia’s beauty lies the harshest rural poverty in the western hemisphere.

Our Bolivian Technical Team The team members are all Bolivian technical agriculture graduates. They design and administer our projects. They work alongside the people respecting their knowledge and culture.

Crucially our team monitors our completed projects for up to three years. Development work of some agencies fails because they don’t keep checking on their projects.

Quaker Bolivia Link Success Stories QBL has built over 500 greenhouses

Why greenhouses? At 12,500 feet on the Altiplano the temperature drops below freezing 200 nights of the year. Because Bolivia is near the Equator the sun is strong. By early afternoon it can reach 65 degrees. A greenhouse conserves the heat through the night. A greenhouse also retains the moisture in the long dry season.

We give every family a course on greenhouse cultivation

QBL has brought water supplies to over 60 Andean Villages

Every house in our villages has a faucet or a hand pump outside

The people themselves dig the ditches, mix the cement and make the mud bricks. Quiz question – What lake is this?

We give every family a hygiene course – Washing hands after going to the bathroom Washing hands before cooking Dental health Everyone in the community receives soap, a towel, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

So who pays for all this? QBL has been supported by thousands of generous donors. We’ve had gifts from over 170 Quaker meetings in the US, UK, Ireland and Germany. We’ve been awarded grants from foundations in Britain and the US.

We have villages waiting for their QBL drinking water supplies. We have families hoping for a QBL greenhouse. Please help. Go to the donation page on our website. A few dollars can change lives – permanently. qbl.org/donate

Thank you

qbl.org us at We’d love to hear from you. Quiz answer. It was Lake Titicaca, highest navigable lake in the world.