Bolivia

A vector map of Bolivia, showing locations specific to NPH.
  • Country Facts
  • NPH Bolivia at a Glance

Country Facts 

Understanding Bolivia’s geographic and social landscape helps explain the challenges children and families face and the need for long-term, community-based support. 

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Area

424,164 square miles – approximately the size of California and Texas combined
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Population

12,739,998 (2026 est.)
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Languages

Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
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Issues

Ranks at or near the bottom among Latin American countries in several areas of health and development, including poverty, education, fertility, malnutrition, mortality, and life expectancy; soil erosion; loss of  biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies.

NPH Bolivia at a Glance

NPH Bolivia has supported children and families for decades through family-style care, education, healthcare, and community-based programs rooted in long-term stability and opportunity.

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Opened

April 17, 2005
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Location

Casa Padre William B. Wasson is located in the lowlands 50 miles north of Santa Cruz in San Ignacio de Sara where the weather is hot, humid and rainy.
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NPH Operates

Family-style home, medical clinic, farm. Community Programs include a community family center, family reintegration, and seed capital initiatives.

2025 Impact in Bolivia

These 2025 outcomes reflect the impact of NPH programs in Bolivia. 

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Children and adults supported

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Local people employed

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K – University graduates

Counrtyside

Ivan Parra sits down with Marilin Ribera at her house to talk about the residential care program and what youth transition into the community looks like for older NPH children.

Some NPH Bolivia pose for a picture while loading equipment into a van.

The staff at NPH Bolivia are instrumental in creating a safe and healthy environment for the children who come through their doors and building community for the families the impact beyond the NPH property.

Your support helps children thrive.

Donor support makes it possible for NPH to provide long-term care, education, healthcare, and family programs for children and families in need. 

Interesting facts

Program Highlights in Bolivia

  • Residential Care – Transitioned to a family-based care model in 2024. This created a home-like environment that fosters stronger caregiver-child bonds. Children are integrated into the community through education and recreational activities, reinforcing their social connections. By upholding children’s rights, access to quality education, participation in decisions, and a safe environment for growth are ensured.
  • Family Reintegration – Through personalized plans, family bonds are strengthened, economic stability is improved, and housing conditions are enhanced. Parental skill workshops, recognized by local authorities, empower families to create safer homes. Seed capital initiatives enable economic growth, ensuring long-term stability.
  • Youth Empowerment – This program supports young adults transitioning from residential care to independent living. The focus is on job placement and rebuilding social networks, equipping them with the tools needed for self-sufficiency.
  • Farm – A variety of vegetables are grown in gardens at the children’s houses. These gardens give the children a chance to acquire new skills in the field as well as learn the values of responsibility and patience. Food grown in the children’s gardens is used for meals, thus supplementing the home’s budget.
  • Community Family Center – Launched in 2025, this pilot project introduced a preventive, family-centered approach that complements NPH’s residential care model. By working directly with families and communities, the initiative expanded NPH’s reach beyond traditional services, providing integrated support focused on mental health, family cohesion, and parenting skills to address the root causes that place children and adolescents at risk.
 
Bolivian law prohibits us from using photos that show the faces of minors. 
A group of NPH boys, old and young, walk along a body of water carrying a fishing net.
A group of older NPH children pose for a photo with a welcome sign.

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Honor Fr. Wasson’s Legacy Through Be the Light

Make a Be the Light tribute gift in honor of Father Wasson’s legacy. Your gift helps sustain the programs, care, and community that continue his life’s work today. 

Will you make a tribute gift and help carry Father Wasson’s light forward?