More than 120 children in Oruro, Bolivia, are receiving support at a centre run by Polish Teresian Sister Joanna Olszewska. Backed by Caritas Poland, the centre helps children with autism, ADHD, learning difficulties and other developmental disabilities. Located nearly 4,000 metres above sea level on the Andean plateau, the centre has become a lifeline for families who often have nowhere else to turn.
Sister Joanna has worked in Bolivia for the past 10 years. The centre currently serves children from around 60 families. Nearly half of their parents are illiterate. Many families have moved to Oruro from remote mountain areas, where they previously worked as cattle herders. Some children arrive without official documents and have never attended school.
More Children Need Help
The number of children with autism, ADHD and other developmental disabilities has been rising at the centre over the past two years. Schools often struggle to accommodate them. In some cases, parents are advised to take their children out of school and bring them to the centre instead. “When a child with autism or another disorder appears, it is simply seen as another problem,” Sister Olszewska says.
The centre was originally established to help children living on the streets. Its mission has since expanded to include children with learning difficulties and those who need specialised therapy. “We founded the centre because helping local street children is part of our mission,” Sister explains.
Sister Joanna Olszewska says:
Caritas Support
Caritas Poland funds two projects in Bolivia: a centre supporting children with autism and ADHD, and an educational and care centre for children living on the streets. In Oruro, the funding helps pay for staff training, travel, educational materials and the operation of a stimulation room. “This support from Caritas allows me to run the centre,” says Sister Olszewska. The work has become even more difficult amid Bolivia’s political crisis and recent roadblocks, which have disrupted access to food and medicine. For the poorest families, getting through the day can be a struggle. Some working children earn just enough to pay for one meal. Families without health insurance often avoid hospitals because they cannot afford treatment. The sisters help cover the costs of surgeries and medical care, including treatment following accidents.
One Family’s Story
One of the children helped by the centre is María Jesús, who arrived when she was just three years old. Her mother and grandmother both have intellectual disabilities. When the school could no longer communicate with the family, the sisters stepped in and offered them support. Today, the centre helps María Jesús with her schoolwork. It also provides a daily meal for all three family members. Sister Olszewska says the girl is now thriving. Her mother and grandmother get up at 3 a.m. to bake cookies, which they later sell at the market. “They know they can count on our help with anything, no matter what happens,” the missionary says.
María Jesús is just one of many children whose lives have been changed by the centre. The sisters’ goal is to help each child become as independent as possible and prepare them for adult life. “I would like them to become more independent and self-reliant,” Sister Olszewska says.
Sr. Joanna Olszewska on mission in Bolivia, photo: Caritas Poland
Karol Darmoros, Piotr Kowalczuk, vaticannews.va/pl