In Bolivia, there are countless children who are abandoned or orphaned. They are all victims of poverty and the lack of education in schools and families. The state orphanages are completely overcrowded, and there is usually only one caregiver for every 20 children.
We, a small group of committed women and men, have set ourselves the goal of helping as many abandoned children in Bolivia as possible. For this purpose, we founded the association 'Circulo Viviente' (Eng. Circle of Life) in the year 2001. From the original goal of building a single orphanage, we have come to support eight different orphanages. We now care for over a hundred children between the ages of 0 and 15 in these orphanages (as of 2018).
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Here you can find out how you can help.
The association 'Circulo Viviente' is a non-profit organization supporting several orphanages in Bolivia. It is independent of any religious or political affiliation. Adress: Circulo Viviente, Hafnerstrasse 504, A-3511 Furth (Austria)
My name is Maria Edler, and my story begins in Bolivia where I was born and raised in the warmth of an extraordinary, loving extended family. My father dedicated his career to teaching mathematics at the University of Oruro, while my mother was the heart of our home. I am one of six siblings, blessed with four brothers and a sister.
Ours was a childhood filled with joy and security. At the age of 17, I embarked on a journey to Europe for my studies. This new chapter saw Europe evolving into my second home.
A pivotal moment came in 1994 during a visit to an orphanage in my birthplace. The sight that greeted me was heart-wrenching: the orphanage was so crammed that there wasn't even space for one more small bed. Fast forward six years, and the situation had deteriorated further - the children's beds had been removed to make room for more children. The sleeping quarters were reduced to mere mattresses scattered on the floor.
This experience was a call to action. I was determined to make a difference in the lives of these children in Bolivia. With the support of a group of compassionate women and men, we laid the foundation for Circulo Viviente, driven by a shared vision of hope and change.
As of now, our organization extends its support to eight orphanages, known as 'Hogares para Niños'. Seven of these are located in the vibrant city of Cochabamba, while 'La casa de los Preciosos', home to 18 children with disabilities, is situated in Santa Cruz (status as of August 2018).The children under our care are eligible for adoption, though currently, this opportunity is available only to Bolivian families.
For those children who, due to their age or health challenges, are not candidates for adoption, our orphanages provide a stable and nurturing home.
Each day presents a challenge as SEDEGES, the institution that refers children to us, reaches out to place more in need. However, it's with a heavy heart that we often find ourselves in a position to decline, as accepting more children would inevitably dilute the individual attention and care each child receives. To expand our capacity and embrace more children, significant enhancements in infrastructure and an increase in dedicated staff are essential.
Hafnerstrasse 504
3511 Furth, Austria
eugemelga@yahoo.de
+43 (0)699 11 48 63 53
Hafnerstrasse 504
3511 Furth, Österreich
kontakt@circulo-viviente.at
+43 (0)699 11 48 63 53