Programs

Kaya currently provides a variety of services to street-involved children in La Paz, Bolivia. These services are offered through 3 main venues: our street outreach program, our homes for children, and the Kaya Center. Through each of these venues, we provide individualized support to children and families to make sure their holistic needs are met.

Our philosophy of care

We believe that the most effective way to transform the lives of children on the streets is to provide them with a permanent home and the opportunity to receive unconditional love and support from a community of care-givers. In such an environment, children can build hope for the future as they discover themselves as worthy individuals who are unique and capable. We believe children do not heal from past traumas or learn more pro-social behaviors in a counseling office or classroom alone, though formal interventions are an important and necessary part of what we do. Children develop optimally when they are valued members of a community, when they experience positive relationships with others, and when they feel their actions make a difference. Therefore, all of our program models offer an environment in which children are supported throughout their daily activities, empowered and encouraged to make positive changes, and challenged to go beyond their expectations.

A brief history of our programs

Our programs were originally developed to respond to an urgent need in La Paz, Bolivia. There was a growing number of children on the streets, many of whom had tried and left multiple other programs around the city. We were compelled to find a way to help these children, the children many other programs deemed beyond help. We focused on creating 3 small, high-quality, family-style homes, and developing a variety of support programs to help them make a permanent move off the streets. We developed a reputation around the city as the program who takes the kids no one else will.

Today, we have a solid understanding of what it takes to transform the lives of children living on the streets. It requires a long-term investment, highly committed and capable care-givers, and an abundance of resources, but it can be done. We have been privileged to witness and participate in the successes of many children who have overcome the odds and are now entering adulthood poised to make a positive difference in their communities: as model citizens, as parents, as husbands, as professionals, and as leaders.

Our experiences have convinced us that no child is beyond help, and we remain committed to taking on the toughest cases. At the same time, we know that change will not happen if we remain only at this end of the problem. Therefore, we are expanding our efforts to develop more preventive interventions and community-based solutions. The Kaya Center represents our first step in this direction. Stay tuned for more developments over the coming months!