Bolivia, Plurinational State of

Real lives

Carla’s story: Getting off the street and back into school

© UNICEF Bolivia/2004

Carla feels fortunate to be able to go to school

EL ALTO, Bolivia, 9 November 2004 – Carla, 11, is a cheerful and talkative fourth grader who attends the 6 de Junio school. Carla feels fortunate to be able to go to school – just a year ago she was working all day selling cigarettes and candy in the streets and bars of El Alto.

Carla was forced to go to work by family members when she was seven. Her job as a street vendor was difficult and dangerous. She had to work until four or five in the morning.

Carla made quite a few friends among the other children who frequented the streets, but she decided to stop seeing many of them when she realized they were using a drug called ‘clefa’. The drug is a type of glue that users inhale, often to forget that they are cold and hungry.

In 2003, educators from a girls’ residence called Casa Kantuta arrived in the area of El Alto where Carla was living. After meeting with Carla and hearing her story, she was invited to come and live with them.

Carla’s routine at Casa Kantuta includes doing the laundry

Carla is the youngest of the 20 girls who live at Casa Kantuta. In the house, Carla gets up at 6 a.m., washes her clothes with friends in the courtyard and then makes breakfast. After that she heads off to school, eager to attend her favourite class – natural science. She loves learning about plants and animals.

Carla’s dream is to attend university and become a teacher. She hopes to return and help the children who live alone or who are trapped on the street, and get them into school.

Education reform in Bolivia and UNICEF’s work

Since 1995, after the adoption of the UNICEF-supported Education Reform Law in Bolivia, there has been a transformation of basic education in the country. Significant advances include the increase in coverage and retention rates for primary schools.

There has also been an improvement in the quality of education, due to the implementation of new intercultural curricula, improved teacher training and the provision of better materials for schools.

The Education Reform Law also explicitly addresses the need for gender equality in its fundamental goals and objectives.

During 2004, UNICEF developed a special project in El Alto for girls who have to work instead of going to school. The project is based on experiences from programmes in other cities which seek to promote retention of girls in primary school.