BOLIVIA Rosa Sanchez

Rosa Sanchez can’t read or write, but that doesn’t stop her from working hard to make a living for herself and her family.

This mother of three lives with her husband, Modesto, high in the mountains of Bolivia. Nearly everyone in their community lives below the poverty line, and many are malnourished. Rosa and Modesto used to struggle to keep their family healthy. Because they didn't have access to nutritious foods or safe drinking water, they were frequently undernourished and prone to illness.

Lutheran World Relief worked with local partner Fundación Arado (Ploughshare Foundation) to improve access to water in Rosa’s community by protecting water storage tanks from contamination and constructing water treatment structures. Families also received training on water purification, personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness.

LWR and Fundación Arado are helping families install vegetable gardens to grow a variety of nutritious foods, and also educating the community on nutrition and food preparation. A livestock management program that encourages animal vaccination helps them keep their livestock healthy.

With training she received through the LWR project, Rosa currently works as a veterinary promoter, caring for farm animals and giving them their necessary vaccinations. While she can’t read, she’s learned to follow a color coding system to ensure she’s giving the proper injections to the animals. 

Now Rosa is using her skills to earn a living for herself and her family. Of this work, Modesto says, “We work together, and we will not forget what we have learned about food, our health and being clean.” Both also appreciate having clean water for themselves and their children. Rosa says, "Now our family does not have stomach aches because we are drinking clean water and eating well."