Oruro
Bolivia population: 11,922,995 in 2022
GDP per capita (US$): $3,143 in 2020
Cost to Run Program for 1 Year: $6000
Nutritional Supplements Used:
- Chispitas (Multivitamin Sprinkles) (6-35 months)
- Cerelac (36-72 months)/Powdered Milk
- Yogurt
Fact from UNICEF / WHO / World Bank:
COVID-19 Recovery
As the world responds to and recovers from the pandemic, urgent action is critical to protect maternal and child nutrition – especially in the most affected regions – and secure a future where the right to nutrition is a reality for every child.
Source: Levels and trends in child malnutrition, 2021
Primitiva Roca
Community Coordinator
I was born November 27, 1949 in a valley of the Department of Potosi. My mother’s name is Margarita Huarachi and my father’s name is Roman Viracochea. They cultivated the land and lived off it. I have four brothers, and I am the youngest and the only girl. My older brother has since passed away. Until the age of seven, I lived with my mother, which is a beautiful memory. She always taught me values and that the most important value is honesty. And from my father I learned to work. He said that work dignifies the person. When I was seven, my mother died. Then I was left orphaned and went to live with my older brother in a mining camp. My life had changed, and I also received instruction in an elementary school. During that time, my brother William also left and to this day I still have not seen him. But I know he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because when my oldest son when went on a mission he found him. And now I can talk to him on the phone, but I still have not seen him. Then for economic reasons I left high school and went to work in the city of Oruro where I have now lived for 40 years. I came to know the gospel of Jesus Christ here in Oruro, and I was baptized by Elder Alvin Roads. I am one of the first pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of this city, and recently I received an acknowledgment for being a pioneer of the 50 years The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been in Bolivia. I married Don Florencio Rock Barrientos and have five children, including three who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now I have about 14 grandchildren and the oldest of my grandchildren is serving a mission in Central Lima. At the age of 37, my husband died. He was a teacher, and that is why I worked in a city school for 25 years. But two years ago I welcomed retirement. During my years as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have served in various callings. I have served as the Primary President, Relief Society President, Young Women’s President, and as a teacher in these different auxiliaries. In 2014, I began volunteering with the Bountiful Children’s Foundation with which I am happy to contribute service to others. I am very grateful to my Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity, and I am also grateful to those who created this foundation that remember the teachings of the Savior and put into practice. In my current city it gets pretty cold in the winter but we feel the warmth. Thank you. Primitiva Roca
Bountiful's Community Coordinators
Community coordinators serve with Bountiful as volunteers. They organize other local volunteers and together conduct screenings, train families, distribute locally-purchased supplements, and follow up on infant development.
More of the Story
Bolivia is the country with the worst childhood malnutrition in South America, and the Bountiful Children’s Foundation felt the need to start nutritional programs here. We began the program in 2014 in the highlands and jungles of Bolivia, as the two have very high rates of malnutrition. For nutritional supplementation we are now giving a milk powder and “Sprinkles” (a micronutrient supplement produced by the World Health Organization which supplies adequate Vitamin A, iron, and zinc to growing children). We also encourage mothers to go to the clinics for “cerelac” from the state programs, but that aid is only given to children under 3 years of age.
Meet Melany:
Melany’s parents are a young couple. Due to their young age and lack of guidance, they did not know how to adequately feed their daughter, Melany, until they received training from a nutritionist. The training was sponsored by our Oruro coordinator, Primitiva. Some time later Melany’s mom let us know that the training was a huge help because she learned how to give her daughter good, healthy food. It also helped to raise awareness of Chispitas (multivitamins) that she should give to her daughter. She is grateful for the support of the trainings and the delivery of the milk that she received.
Pictures from Screenings, Nutrition Classes, and Supplement Distributions:
Considering A Donation?
100% of your donation goes directly toward helping children in need! Overhead costs are covered by generous board member donations.
- $8 = feeds 1 child for a month
- $25 = feeds 3 children for a month
- $100 = feeds 1 child for a year
- $500 = feeds an average community for a month
- $6,000 = adopts a community of your choice for one year
Bolivia Gives Thanks:
Bolivia's History with Bountiful
Bountiful's Mission
Our mission is to provide nutritional supplementation to malnourished children and pregnant/nursing mothers as well as to teach health and cognitive development skills to families in the areas we serve.
