Toybox - let the Street Children live!
International News
News from Latin America.
A pastor, his daughter and their project in Oruro
There's a church in Oruro called Hosanna. There's a man in that church called Pastor Cleto.
Pastor Cleto has a large family and not much money. He lives in the unfriendly climate of high-altitude Bolivia where the nights are cold and the rain abundant. Families struggle to survive and often leave the town in search of a better life. Children work on the streets or are left alone all day while their parents go out to earn money.
But Pastor Cleto lives to serve God and doesn't let circumstances dissuade him. He has seen the need of children in his community and, along with his daughter, runs a project called 'I am the Child in your Eyes.'
Most of the world has no idea that this project exists. Most of Bolivia has no idea that it exists. The story of Pastor Cleto and his daughter, like so many people that Toybox partners with, is of local people seeing a local need and, with little support and even less money, doing something about it. They are quietly choosing a way of life that, instead of serving themselves, looks to God and to their community.
Around 150 children know and love Pastor Cleto and his project, flooding from around Oruro to the church every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to eat, play, sing, draw, chat, catch up with schoolwork, and generally just be children.
These are children from 'high risk' situations; some of them work on the streets of Oruro, others are orphaned or have been abandoned. Others simply don't have anyone to care for them while their parents are working long hours to provide for their family.
Pastor Cleto and his daughter saw a need in their community. They saw a chance to be God's love to these children, in a quiet, little-known, but hugely significant way. And through the Red Alert network in Oruro they are receiving the support, training and funding they need to take their work even further.
If they see a need in their project - a way that Toybox can help to improve its facilities and resources - they can apply for funding via our Leapfrog grants. They might want a new toilet block or roof. They might want school equipment and stationary. They might simply want some new cups, bowls and plates for their kitchen. Whatever it is, with your help, we can provide the money to enable Pastor Cleto and his daughter to further their invaluable work in a church in Oruro.
Alastair Welford with Pastor Cleto's daughter
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