With 5 counterpart organizations in Minnesota and Bolivia and many projects and programs, Mano a Mano is always busy! Check out a few updates of what we have going on, in partnership with Bolivian communities and supported by many people and organizations:
Welcome Metro State Social Work Students!
Welcome to our 8th(?!?) year of Metro State Social Work students who are participating with Mano a Mano through their Community Learning Center Practicum during the fall semester! This semester’s 4 students will be involved in many aspects of Mano a Mano’s work in the Twin Cities in support of our projects and programs in Bolivia.
Distributing Firefighting Equipment in Bolivia
We have distributed firefighting equipment and supplies sent from Minnesota to 5 organizations in Bolivia this week, including Thasnuq, SBRAB, and SAR.
Firefighting Equipment for SBRAB
Firefighting Equipment for SAR
Breaking Ground on Bridge Projects in Punata
Mano a Mano was present with the Gobierno Autónomo Municipal De Punata to formally start work on bridge projects in Punata on August 31st, 2024.
Dia de Dignidad del Adulto Mayor in Cochabamba
Last week (August 26th, 2024) representatives from the Cochabamba government visited the Centro Caramarca as part of celebrations to recognize the “Day of Dignity for Older Adults.” In their video posted on Facebook, we were happy to notice some of the mobility equipment distributed by Mano a Mano:
Some Weekly Activities at the CEA: August 26-30, 2024
Breaking Ground on Terminal for Mano a Mano Airport
Mano a Mano broke ground on the airport terminal portion of the Mano a Mano airport project in Punata, Bolivia on August 28th, 2024. The runway (seen in the background) will be paved and completed in the coming months.
New Health Clinic in El Carmen, Bolivia is Almost Complete
Mano a Mano’s newest health clinic in El Carmen, Bolivia is almost complete!
Every Mano a Mano project is a partnership: thank you to our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia, who oversees the process of building clinics from start to finish; the local community of El Carmen and municipal government of Tarabuco that are involved throughout the process; and US funders that are providing the seed money that make this project possible!
With Mano a Mano clinics, they become part of the Bolivian healthcare system and are the official provider for their catchment area, making them eligible for services and reimbursement through Health Ministry-funded programs. All staff salaries in Mano a Mano’s clinics are paid for by sources within Bolivia (we currently have 546 medical professionals – 200 doctors, 266 nurses, and 80 dentists – working in Mano a Mano clinics). Our clinic program’s approach is that health outcomes can be dramatically improved with simple yet effective interventions, beginning with the basic ability to consistently access quality services in their own communities. Every project is a partnership; our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia oversees the process of building clinics from start to finish; the local community and municipal government are involved throughout the process and take over management of each project once they are complete; and US funders provide the seed money that make each project possible. We have completed 186 clinics to date (2 new clinics finished in April), with this clinic project in El Carmen currently under construction, 3 communities with signed agreements for a clinic, and 43 communities on our clinic project waiting list actively seeking to partner with Mano a Mano.