Para Los Niños is a Bolivian non-profit organization based in city of La Paz, Bolivia.
Our mission is to work to improve the quality of life of abandoned and abused children and young adults living in state run homes in the Department of La Paz, Bolivia.
Since 1995, Para Los Niños has worked in coordination with SEDEGES (Social Services Department) in different homes and institutions to improve the quality of care, treatment, education and general development of resident children, youth and young adults. What started as a small non-governmental organization run by a group of volunteers for the children in the Children’s Home Virgen de Fatima, over the years evolved into an organization working to improve the lives of residents in 12 state run homes and institutions. There are children from birth to 18 years of age. They come from a variety of backgrounds: orphans and abandonned children, young offenders, victims of violence, sexual traffic, domestic abuse, and intellectually or physically disabled.
We support the work of the existing authorities and care givers. All activities and projects implemented by our organization are done in agreement with SEDEGES with a written agreement indicating the demarcation of responsibilities of each party, to ensure the implementation, development and sustainability of project activities.
Para Los Niños is a registered non-governmental organization in Bolivia since the 12th of October 1995, with a legal registration via the Presidential Supreme Resolution number 216304.
We channel all donations, national and international, into activities that have a direct benefit for the children and young adults that live in these 12 state homes.
Para Los Niños is run on a voluntary basis. We harness the time and skills of people in La Paz, both national and international, and channel them into the various project activities being implemented in the different homes.
The NGO coordinator and volunteer coordinator work on a voluntary basis. They manage the daily activities of the organization. Only persons that supply technical assistance for specific projects or support positions in different homes are salaried. All salaried employees are Bolivian nationals.
Para Los Niños is managed by a group of volunteers, who constitute the Board of Directors of the organization. The Board consists of a President, Vice-President and Secretary, and four to eight additional board members who bring other skills such as financial, legal or educational support. The board meets on a regular basis and is voted in at the Annual General Assembly.
Members of the organization are people committed to the objectives of Para Los Niños and who provide the organization with time, energy or monetary support.
Para Los Niños Board of Directors 2011-2012
- President: Áine Markham, Public health specialist (Ireland)
- Vice-President: Adriana Arbealez, Marketing specialist (Colombia)
- Secretary: Aurelien Maurin, Primary School Teacher (France)
- Treasurer: Bart Delvaux, Engineer (Belgium)
- Board member: Maria Jimena Patiño, Lawyer (Bolivia)
- Board member: Isabelle McClay, Nurse (Belgium)
- Board member: Joanna Smith, Child protection specialist (UK)