Kaya Center

The Kaya Center is our base of operations in La Paz, Bolivia, housing the majority of our programs and staff.  Through the Kaya Center, we run a full-day program for children who would otherwise be on the streets and out of school, we provide support services to families, we offer training to other agencies and volunteers, and we develop and test new initiatives to further best practice with street-involved children.

Day Program

The full-day program is the central activity of the Kaya Center.  It serves the children in our residential program, as well as children who are able to live at home but who are at high risk for moving onto the streets.  This includes children who have come through our residential program and were able to return home to their families.  

The day program runs from 8am-6pm and consists of 3 main components:  school, psychosocial support, and after school activities.

School Program

Children who attend the day program have unique academic needs that cannot be met through traditional schools.  Most have missed years of school and are far behind their peers, and many have specific learning challenges that require special attention.  Our school program offers a traditional curriculum using a non-traditional approach.  Individualized learning plans guide each child’s progress, enabling each child to work at a pace that suits his or her abilities.  Children who are quick-studies are able to move through material faster and catch up to grade-level, while children who have greater difficulties are given the time they need to achieve mastery.  Instruction caters to different learning styles and special emphasis is placed on critical thinking skills.

Psychosocial Support Program

The psychosocial support program addresses the various psychological, emotional and social issues that children bring with them off of the streets.  According to their needs, children participate in individual and group counseling, and receive crisis support.  Clinical staff members also work closely with teachers and other staff to support children in the classrooms and during afterschool activities.  Key themes that are frequently addressed through this program include: healthy relationships, aggression, stress management, abandonment and loss, fear and anxiety, sexual development and appropriate boundaries, and self-esteem.

Afterschool Program

The afterschool program offers a variety of classes and workshops that address important life skills and developmental goals through fun activities.  Classes have ranged from guitar instruction to volleyball to movie-making to bike repair and tend to draw upon the talents and skills of our staff and volunteers.  Through classes like these, in addition to specific workshops focused on vocational development and preparation for independence, we address: self esteem, identity development, conflict resolution, teamwork, future orientation, perspective-taking, decision-making, and communication skills.