Gustavo needs your support

Update December 16: Gustavo got his "padrinos" today!

He is not the only one, of course. We have many children in need of sponsors, or "padrinos", as they are called in Bolivia. But at 10, Gustavo is about to get too old.

Most sponsors like to support children from a young age. We understand this very well, as following a child through the years is very rewarding. So this is not a complaint, it is merely a fact.

Because of this, we have, over the last year, worked especially hard to provide the older children with sponsors. By this, we mean children born 1998 or later. Of course, none of the youngsters older than this will lose their place in the orphanage or day care center. But we don't try to find sponsors for them until, in one year or five, they leave and their place becomes available.

This has worked very well. At this time, Gustavo is the last child available from 1998. Our oldest child looking for a "padrino".

Here is a little of what we know about Gustavo: He is a very nice boy who takes pride in studying well. That is good, because his dream is to become a doctor of medicine. He comes to one of our day care and educational centers in Cochabamba to eat, play with other children and do his homework.

Gustavo lives along with his father, mother and two year old brother in a small house with two rooms. His parents are hard working: The father has just finished his university studies, and his mother drives a taxi, which is something quite unusual in Bolivia. Thus, this is a family with definite possibility. But as of yet, they are finding it difficult to escape from poverty. Though they try to do their best for their two sons, they can only manage the barest necessities in terms of food and clothing.

If you would like to help Gustavo, please send us an email. Our "padrinos" normally pay USD 30/Euro 25 per month, plus (if they want to) a similar amount for birthday and Christmas presents.

PS:
As mentioned above, we always have numerous children looking for sponsors. They are boys and girls from 3 to 10 years of age. In this blog, we will only be able to tell you about a few of them.