School Health & Nutrition in Bolivia

Save the Children, in partnership with private donors, is pleased to present the third report of the project Healthy Habits for Kids. We would like to thank our donors that make it possible to reach out to more children and allow them to acquire healthy habits which will improve their learning abilities and quality of life.

We are also excited to announce that we were able to expand our program reach and have just started to promote healthy habits for kids in an additional 50 schools in the city of El Alto as well as in schools in Trinidad and San Andres - municipalities of the department Beni.

Our work in El Alto during the past three months focused on providing training workshops to 145 child leaders on healthy foods, adequate hand-washing methods, safe water, the adequate use of bathrooms and solid waste disposal. Additionally, 89 teachers as well as 273 parents received training on child rights and the prevention of violence in schools.

Another focus of our work was to strengthen child participation. In the first Meeting of Child Club Leaders, in which 124 students from 9 schools participated, the children had the opportunity to share their experiences as rights holders and regarding child participation. They also received training on basic international principals of child participation and about how to apply and promote child participation within their schools.

During this activity the children also prepared an official letter, stating the needs the child leaders identified during the meeting. One of the greatest necessities highlighted by the children were the poor conditions of the school bathrooms. Many schools do not have running water and even lack toilets. The letter was given to the municipal sub mayor of District 8 of El Alto who is the highest authority of the sector. She promised to address these needs.

Save the Children is pleased to present this year’s second report of the project Healthy Habits for Kids. We are thankful to be able to provide children of poor neighborhoods in Bolivia with the opportunity to acquire healthy habits to be able to learn better and to live well.

 This year, a total of 4000 students of 10 schools in the city of El Alto will benefit directly from this program. Additionally, 11,000 children will benefit indirectly from the program through an educational network that complements our current work.

 By April 2016, 163 teachers received training on topics such as personal hygiene, adequate handwashing practices, appropriate bathroom use, safe water, and the consumption of healthy foods and products rich in iron and vitamin A. In addition, 33 teachers from 24 schools received first aid training as well as training on the administration of the first aid school kit. 23 teachers and members of the Educational Council have also received an induction to menstrual hygiene management.

 We continued implementing the strategy of the healthy recess during which children consume only healthy products such as fruits and vegetables. The school kiosks participate in this activity and only sell healthy products on the day of the healthy recess, predefined by the school.

 We would like to highlight the implementation of our new strategy “Recesses in Movement”. With the objective to reduce child obesity and sedentariness, once a week the school recess focuses on physical activity. Parents and other family members are being invited to join the physical exercise and games of their children such as French skipping, football or jumping the skipping rope. These activities do not only provide physical benefits but also further the student’s social skills through playful team sports.