In recent weeks, widespread protests and road blockades have taken place across Bolivia, particularly affecting the cities of La Paz and neighbouring El Alto. These disruptions have made it difficult for food, fuel, and essential supplies to reach communities, with shortages reported and daily life significantly affected.
Many roads into the cities have been blocked, isolating neighbourhoods and preventing transport. This has meant that shops have struggled to restock, healthcare access has been disrupted, and some families have been cut off from vital services.
While efforts are now underway to restore access and stability, the situation remains fragile. For families already living in vulnerable circumstances, these kinds of disruptions can have a significant impact.
How this affects children in street situations
For children and young people who live or work on the streets, times like these can be especially challenging.
•Access to food: families faced critical shortages of fresh food such as meat, vegetables and fruit, as well as soaring prices for whatever was available. Although with the removal of blockades, access to food within the cities has been restored, prices are still high.
• Education: at the height of the crisis, schools were closed and virtual learning offered. This was inaccessible for many children in street situations, affecting their learning and opportunities for play and interaction with peers. School has now resumed for the last two weeks of term before the short winter holidays.
• Emotional wellbeing: children experienced increased stress due to the street protests and police response (some involving tear gas). Those living on the streets were not able to access shelters they previously used, placing them at increased risk each night.
•Safe spaces and support services were harder to reach, as transport was severely disrupted and project activities suspended.
•Increased tension and uncertainty in the streets made daily life more unpredictable and unsafe.
•Family pressures grew, as caregivers struggled to provide for basic needs in the face of shortages. Due to a lack of supplies and limited access to certain areas, families were not able to earn income selling items on the streets.
There have also been reports that disruption to transport prevented some people from accessing medical care, highlighting how quickly vulnerable groups can be affected when systems are under strain.
How our partner, Alalay are responding:
Toybox’s local partner in Bolivia, Alalay are continuing to support children and families wherever possible. Over the past few weeks, the team organised an ‘Emergency Brigade’ to provide food directly to families. In some cases, this involved staff walking long distances around blockades due to the lack of public transport. In May and June, they completed two distributions of dry and canned food to families living on the streets, or at high risk, reaching approximately 60 families.
Karina Ribera, Director of the Street Programme commented; "During these nearly two months of social unrest, the families we work with have felt supported and cared for. They greatly appreciate the food aid we have been able to provide, as well as the workshops and the learning opportunities they have taken part in. But above all, they appreciate that we have always been there for them, offering a helping hand and words of encouragement to keep going."
To support families to generate income, Alalay worked with the local social services department and with a local business, which provided food items (such as powdered milk, cartons of juice and lentils) that families could then sell or use to help cover their basic needs. The team also set up WhatsApp groups to check in on families and provide them with emotional support and telephone counselling sessions at the start of the civil unrest.
Pictured above: (L) A project participant holds her activity pack (R) The Alalay team distribute the activity packs to children at the project.
To support children and teenagers, the team created and distributed 80 kits with emotional and recreational materials and also provided guidance on how to use the materials. As the blockades eased, the team coordinated a day of workshops with children, teenagers and parents on promoting self-care and on strengthening protective environments in their homes.
Karina continued; "The children were delighted to receive their play and educational materials; each item comes with an explanation and is designed to help them look after their emotional wellbeing during times of conflict and difficulty. The families are very grateful for the emotional support, as well as the food they have received during these nearly two months of social unrest."
looking ahead
Roz Elliott, Toybox's Programme Manager for Latin America concludes, "The effects of the civil unrest will be felt for some time. Healthcare was impacted, businesses closed their doors and staff were let go. While transport is moving, there are still very long queues for petrol. In the weeks and months ahead, the Alalay team will continue to adapt to the context and provide support to children and families they work alongside - thanks to the generosity of Toybox supporters, they can continue to stand alongside families during this challenging time."
Pictured below: The Alalay team distributing the food packages to families in El Alto.
