Circo Social

Information about Bolivia
In the heart of South America, surrounded by five countries, lies Bolivia, one of the most diverse countries in the world. Although 50 percent of the country’s population lives on the most meager of incomes, the country enjoys a wealth of culture, many traditions, and extraordinary nature. Over 40 percent of the population self-identifies as a member of one of Bolivia’s 36 indigenous groups, with an additional 20 to 30 percent mixed indigenous heritage, contributing to the country’s strong diversity. The two largest linguistic and cultural groups are Aymara and Quechua. Bolivia has three official languages – Spanish, Quecha, and Aymara, and two capitals – La Paz, the administrative center, and Sucre, the judicial center. (For more demographic information, see the official Bolivian 2012 census summary.)

Bolivia has the largest percentage of indigenous populations in the Americas. Despite centuries of oppression, the indigenous groups remain independent, hard working, and dedicated to continuing their traditions. Bolivia has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the Americas, which contributes to high levels of extreme poverty. Land, resources, and wealth remain concentrated in the hands of a small number of families
– with the richest 10 percent of the population controlling nearly half of the country’s total wealth – one of the highest levels of inequality in Latin America.

As a result, the other 90 percent are engaged in every type of economic activity imaginable, just to put food on the table, and child labor is an accepted part of this effort. Most hardships of today’s poverty are the legacies of colonialism, dictatorship, corruption, and international debt.

Under President Evo Morales, elected in December 2005, the Bolivian government has undergone many changes. Morales enjoys popularity amongst the Bolivian people for advocating a return to indigenous roots and environmental conservation, yet he also faces a great deal of pressure from international corporations to improve infrastructure and modernize the economy.

Sceneries in Bolivia range from snow-clad mountains to tropical rain forests, with vast possibilities for rugged adventure, sightseeing, and relaxing. Options include trekking, spelunking, visiting ancient sites, sailing across Lake Titicaca, going on an anaconda hunt in the jungle, and visiting Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats.

Cochabamba
The city of Cochabamba is situated at 8,375 feet above sea level in the center of landlocked Bolivia. The Department of Cochabamba, with a population of approximately 1,758,000, is both the agricultural center of Bolivia and a leading contributor to the country’s economy. Cochabamba is made up of 16 provinces. Its capital – the city of Cochabamba – is the urban center of the department with approximately 631,000 inhabitants. The city of Quillacollo
and its surrounding municipalities include 235,000 inhabitants.
Cochabamba, “the city of eternal Spring,” is a sophisticated setting for arts, culture, dialog, museums, concerts, and all the activities associated with cosmopolitan cities throughout the world. There are many universities and a vibrant nightlife, especially for young people. The restaurants serve delicious local dishes as well as Western food. The city has an international airport, bus terminal, and transportation to surrounding nature parks, lakes, and mountains villages. As the third largest city, Cochabamba and its surrounding municipalities are culturally and economically important to the country, yet 50 percent of its population lives in poverty ranging from moderate to severe. Many families live without basic necessities, while relentless despair fuels abuse, addiction, and family dissolution. In Cochabamba and surrounding areas, an estimated 200,000 children between the ages of
5 and 16 work at laborious, dangerous jobs such as brick making, construction, shoe shining, and selling or hawking on the streets, with little time or energy for an education.

An estimated 3 to 5 percent of children leave harsh conditions at home for the streets, where they are exposed to extreme dangers of police brutality, drugs, prostitution, and other circumstances leading to an early death.