Maria: Violence to Police

Maria  •  Bolivia

At seven years old, Maria fled from violence at home only to encounter the violence of the streets. She’d suffered so much abuse at home that she reasoned the streets might at least give her somewhere to hide. But they didn’t. She was hungry and cold and saw children raped and beaten week after week.

When our street teams meet children in La Paz, it takes many months of relentless kindness before they develop trust in adults again. She was terrified when we first met her. Maria had never seen children trusting the adults around them, and she didn’t know whether she should.

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So she watched us carefully. When she was ready, she joined our residential program and received access to counseling, her own bed, clothes, and family meals with the other children. She noticed that the adults kept showing up. They were reliable, kind, and respectful of children. Little by little, she opened up and began to heal.

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ON THE RISE

Eventually, Maria learned to trust again. She found that the adults caring for her weren’t only consistent- they were protecting her. Finally, she said, she felt safe enough to sleep through the night.

Maria is flourishing in school and forming friendships with adults and peers alike. She aspires to become a police officer when she graduates because she wants to protect children from the violence of the streets that she had to survive with no protection.

You are making it possible for Maria to be in school. Because of you, she will be able to help others.