UPDATE: Oct. 7, 2008 - The violence stirred by political tensions between government officials and protesters is beginning to subside.

Both parties involved in the conflict have begun to negotiate and work toward an agreement.

All Compassion-assisted child development centers that were temporarily shut down are now fully operational.

Please pray for those involved in peace negotiations and that the conflict can be resolved quickly.

Compassion Bolivia will keep us updated as more information is available.

Compassion International will contact you if your sponsored child has been affected.

UPDATE: Sept. 30, 2008  - After several weeks of negotiations, the government leaders in Bolivia continue to work towards a resolution with protesters.

On October 13th, representatives from 15 different groups will march together to pressure Congress to approve the new constitution.

• BO-309 was temporarily closed but has now resumed regular activities.
• BO-346 has temporarily stopped program activities because it is located three blocks away from the protests.  

Currently, Compassion-assisted child development centers are still having difficulties finding food and propane tanks to provide meals for the children.

Please pray for the continued safety of our Compassion-assisted children and their families. Ask God to provide for the children and staff in each of the child development centers.

UPDATE: Sept. 17, 2008 – Officials in Bolivia will soon begin meetings to negotiate a peace agreement with protesters.

The four Compassion-assisted child development centers in Santa Cruz that were temporarily closed (BO-358, BO-375, BO-372 and BO-367) have resumed regular activities.

Child development center BO-309 has temporarily stopped program activities because it is located one block from the protests.

The gas pipeline that was destroyed is being fixed although some child develoment centers in the Santa Cruz area are still cooking with firewood or borrowing propane tanks from neighbors.

UPDATE: Sept. 16, 2008 – The political unrest continues in Bolivia with increasing violence in the cities of Pando, Beni, Tarija and Santa Cruz.

People opposing the government and President Evo Morales are participating in demonstrations and strikes. This has led to a disruption in gas distribution and a shortage of fuel for cooking.

Compassion has four child develoment centers in Santa Cruz that have temporarily stopped regular activities until the violence subsides. These include:

• BO-358
• BO-375
• BO-372
• BO-367

Other child development centers in the Santa Cruz area are affected by the gas shortage and are now cooking with firewood to provide meals to the registered children, along with stocking supplies of non-perishable food items such as rice, noodles and canned meals.

Sept. 11, 2008 - Bolivia has experienced several weeks of political unrest from anti-government protesters who want to remove President Evo Morales from power.

Recently, protesters clashed with military police in Santa Cruz and many people were injured.

At this time, no Compassion-assisted child development centers have been affected.