Improvement and Expansion Project:  “16 de Noviembre” Child Development Center

Total Project Cost: $57,000

Project Location: Zone 16 de Noviembre, District 8, El Alto – La Paz, Bolivia

Project & Program Background

The 16 de Noviembre Child Development Center serves families living in one of El Alto’s most vulnerable areas, where most parents work long hours in informal labor or street vending to sustain their households. The lack of adequate childcare facilities means that many young children are unattended during the day or accompany their parents to unsafe work environments.

To respond to this pressing need, WEFTA, through support from the current Bolivia donors has received over $40,000 towards this project. WEFTA is partnering with our trusted partner, the Asociación para el Desarrollo Local Sostenible – Suma Jayma, to construct the first floor of the existing child development center. The new facilities will include three classrooms, each with its own restroom, a stairway to connect to future upper floors, roofing, and complete interior finishing and painting.

This expansion will enable the center to accommodate more children and provide a safe, nurturing environment for early learning and care.

Community Background

The neighborhood of 16 de Noviembre, located in the zone of Senkata in the municipality of El Alto, Murillo Province, faces serious socio-economic challenges. Families in this area have limited access to stable employment and often rely on informal markets for income. Most households lack safe childcare options, creating difficult choices for working mothers and fathers who must balance earning a living with caring for their children.

Now in its 20th year of continuous service, the child development center currently operates with four classrooms serving 65 children from infancy to age five, but demand for enrollment far exceeds available space. The proposed construction will allow the center to meet this growing need and improve the wellbeing of both children and their parents.

Project Objectives

The project aims to construct a second floor above the existing 16 de Noviembre Child Development Center with three new classrooms , each equipped with its own restroom to ensure safe and hygienic conditions for children and staff. A new staircase will connect the existing center with the new second floor, improving accessibility and functionality. The construction will include roofing, interior finishing, and façade improvements to create a secure, welcoming, and durable structure. Once completed, the expanded facility will enable the center to accommodate 45 additional children, offering them a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for early learning and care.

Sustainability & Community Engagement

The Suma Jayma NGO, a long-term WEFTA partner with extensive construction experience, will manage project implementation, material procurement, and oversight. The center’s staff and local residents will contribute labor and participate in maintenance planning to ensure long-term sustainability.

Once completed, the expanded center will continue to operate under the guidance of trained educators who follow national standards for early childhood care, supported by ongoing community and municipal collaboration.

WEFTA Volunteers

WEFTA volunteers will assist with technical oversight, budgeting review, and construction monitoring to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and long-term functionality of the new facilities.

If you would like additional information about this project, please contact us.