Sumaj Kawsay Area Program

Sumaj Kawsay is a community of contrasts in the heart of the Cochabamba district. Located between 3,400 and 4,420 metres above sea level, the region is known for its lakes, and is famous for the endangered Puya raimondii, a gigantic plant thought to be a living fossil. At the same time, it is also one of the poorest municipalities in all of Bolivia. Of a population of around 14, 836 people, 94.9% cannot provide for their basic needs.

Most families are indigenous Quechua, and Quechua is their first language. However Spanish is the official administrative language and is taught in schools. One in four people is bilingual, but most often they are men. Illiteracy is still high in the area, and is more prevalent in the female population (54%) than in the male (20%). The soils in the region are rich, fertile, and good for cultivation. Springs, streams, and irrigation dikes enhance the potential for agriculture in most communities. Temperatures average a cold 13℃, but can dip below zero.

World Vision began a project in this area after a group of community organizations asked for help. They had seen the impact of a similar program in a neighbouring area, and hoped that World Vision could help also help them address the poverty in their community.