Support 125 children at Refugio Rafael in Bolivia

What a challenging time 2020 has been for all of us. As we learn to shift gears, hunker down in isolation, and dream of the future, we also try to take time to measure our successes.

At the beginning of 2020, we started to plan for the mamas living in Refugio Rafael and to think of ways we could support them through their various paths to independent living. This is our primary purpose for the refugio and sometimes the obstacles to this goal feel very large.

At the beginning of the pandemic, we learned that sometimes terrible obstacles and challenges are what bring us together. During the various lockdown periods, the women living in the Refugio learned to lean on each other and to support one another in ways they had not before. Though we mourned the loss of our trip to visit Bolivia, with 2 groups totaling more than 30 people having to cancel, we really did see the silver lining of Covid in the ways the women of the Refugio came together.

As the pandemic stretches on, a somewhat surprising development for one of the mothers, Guillermina, led to an even more exciting development in the prince. After many months of supporting Guillermina to gain legal control of her deceased husband's property, legal and customary rights to the land and house were restored and she was able to move to the place that was truly the family home.

we know this development will support and encourage the other mothers in their quest to own their own property and home. We continue to work with each of them on their own obstacles and challenges and are reminded that even in the toughest times, it is our friendships, families  and community that keep us afloat, hoping and dreaming. We are so grateful for those opportunities.