The year is coming to a close. Like last year, 2021 has been another challenging year, but we are grateful to you for helping Mano a Mano continue to partner with Bolivian communities to improve their own lives. Check out a few pictures from this year and what we have been able to do together (there is a photo album on Facebook with even more pictures from 2021, and scroll down to the bottom of this post for a video compilation):
2021 in Pictures
Banner honoring Epifanio Velasquez at Laguna Sulti. This is part of the Punata Regional Complex project.
7: Mano a Mano transports some supplies by plane, like this distribution to Baures, Bolivia.
7: Donating a wheelchair for Gustavo in Trinidad, Beni in May.
Abundant potable water began to emerge from the Pampa Grande well last week.
Arriving in Mapiri to transport a patient on the Mano a Mano plane, May 2021.
A Mano a Mano emergency flight in Sucre in 2021.
3: Almost done loading!
Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo staff working on the Chirusi water well in July 2021.
Volunteers from Bolivian organizations like GEOS contribute many hours to help to sort medical supplies at our Cochabamba warehouse.
Working on the 2-story school project in Chirusi.
Pampa Grande leaders at our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo’s office to sign the agreement for their water well.
Heavy machine mechanic students like Walter Rios learn welding, hydraulics, motor repair, tire repair, sheet metal work and painting. They graduate in six months with a certificate in heavy machine mechanics.
Transporting heavy equipment from Cochabamba to Toro Toro to start construction on the airstrip.
Mano a Mano picking a patient up in Santa Ana de Yacuma.
Read about Mano a Mano in this article in the Midway Como Frogtown Monitor.
Farmers from Laguna Sulti have received training through Mano a Mano’s Center for Ecological Agriculture.
Nursing students from CEFTE-Chapare take a break from their volunteer work with Mano a Mano, sorting supplies sent from Minnesota to prepare them for distribution throughout Bolivia. Medical professionals from Hospital Combase also take part in these volunteer sessions, here providing some guidance and training for the nursing student volunteers.
One of Mano a Mano’s weekend health clinics in Poza Honda in November 2021.
Loading Mano a Mano’s Cessna Caravan at our hangar at the Jorge Wilstermann Cochabamba Airport
Dedication brochure for the improved runway in Toro Toro, Bolivia, completed in May 2021.
Picking up Santiago and his family in Oromomo, early October 2021.
Mano a Mano providing an emergency flight after an accident.
Community sorting boulders for the foundation.
Volunteers on the path to Yucomo with Pascuala’s wheelchair.
Machine operators and local residents watch intently as water begins to flow at the Chirusi well.
Students from Metro State and St. Kate’s help load containers with medical supplies and equipment for Bolivia.
Transporting a patient to Santa Cruz (here at Viru Viru airport) for intensive care, May 2021.
Mano a Mano staff and heavy equipment onsite at the Laguna Sulti water reservoir expansion project, 2021.
All 3 containers filled and ready to start on their way to Bolivia – March/April 2021.
“We feel very happy and moved to work together, we want to be a bridge and a helping hand that is willing to reach out to any hand in the world. Let us have an attitude of solidarity, as a municipality let us help with our good will to also reach out to other smaller municipalities in the department that need help.”
El Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Tarija and the Secretaría de Desarrollo Humano y Gestión Social Municipal
Mano a Mano providing a flight for Oscar. Photo Credit: El Guardian Beniano.
Drilling a deep well in Pucara, 2021.
2 containers with 46,829 pounds of supplies starting their journey from Minnesota to Bolivia in June 2021.
PTs, Mano a Mano volunteers, and Mano a Mano Co-Founder Joan Velasquez meeting during our recent giveaway on May 8th at our St. Paul warehouse.
An emergency flight in June 2021 outside of our hangar at the Cochabamba airport.
3: Mano a Mano staff and volunteers load containers, making sure to not waste any of the valuable space.
A container of medical supplies sent from Minnesota arriving at Mano a Mano’s warehouse in Cochabamba, Bolivia, 2020.
Pato Enyo
One of Mano a Mano’s flights in 2020, in front of our hangar at the Cochabamba airport.
Distributing medical supplies and equipment sent from Minnesota for Mano a Mano Bolivia, February 2021.