Kaerlig Hurtado
Mother in Sucre
Submitter Statement:
I had always wanted to help people in Bolivia, but while I was only thinking about it, others were actually doing it. When I learned about Yapay Bolivia, a nonprofit organization based in Utah and founded by four women who had served missions in Bolivia just like I had, I knew I wanted to be involved. They dedicate their time to raising funds for initiatives that promote the health and education of impoverished women and children in Bolivia. Their efforts provide relief to orphans, survivors of domestic abuse, and hospitalized infants and mothers, among others. After working as a registered pediatric nurse for many years, I returned to BYU to pursue a master’s degree in public health with an emphasis on global health. My focus was on Bolivia. I wanted to help, get involved, spread my light, and show the love and appreciation I felt for a country that had blessed me so much as a young missionary. I concentrated my fieldwork for my degree on Bolivian women who are victims of domestic violence and children who are orphaned due to the femicide of their mothers. As part of my studies, I traveled to Bolivia with Yapay and visited organizations that support these women and children to assess their impact and ongoing needs. My studies highlighted the positive impact Yapay Bolivia is making by supporting local organizations. This work inspires people to get involved and donate what they can, allowing Yapay Bolivia to do even more. As a BYU MPH student, I found a way to help, get involved, and spread my light to the women and children I love so dearly.
Entry Description:
I took this photograph of a mother working on a beautiful traditional textile in the outskirts of Sucre, Bolivia. She lives in a humble adobe home with limited services and no running water. Her son, standing behind her, attends an educational program funded by Yapay Bolivia, where he receives nutritious meals and assistance with his homework. The mother’s primary language is Quechua, making it challenging for her to assist with her son’s academic work, which is completed in Spanish.