- Title: Bolivian congregation brings spirit of Christmas to homeless people
- Date: 28th December 2019
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 27, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE CHURCH TO RECEIVE CLOTHES AND FOOD VARIOUS OF HAIRDRESSER LUIS QUINTANILLA ARRIVING AT CHURCH TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE QUINTANILLA HUGGING HOMELESS MAN VARIOUS OF QUINTANILLA CUTTING HOMELESS MAN'S HAIR QUINTANILLA GREETING A HOMELESS MAN QUINTANILLA PREPARING TO CUT HOMELESS MAN'S HAIR HOMELESS MAN LOOKING INTO CAMERA LENS SCISSORS / COMBS AND BRUSHES ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HAIRDRESSER LUIS QUINTANILLA, SAYING: ''We are continuing with the activity of the Good Samaritan and we cut the hair of 17 people. All the hairdressers that participate are very happy and without a doubt we are satisfied because we see the smile of colleagues and friends, who get their hair cut and we see joy, peace and we are happy to provide this service." HOMELESS PEOPLE QUEUING UP TO HAVE HAIR CUT BADGE OF HOMELESS MAN THAT READS: ''WILFREDO 173'' LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 26, 2019) (REUTERS) QUINTANILLA WALKING INTO HIS BARBER'S SHOP QUINTANILLA TURNING THE LIGHTS ON SIGN OUTSIDE QUINTANILLA'S BARBER'S SHOP THAT READS: (Spanish) ''ATTENTION, CHILDREN FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES, FREE OF CHARGE'' QUINTANILLA HANGING SIGN OUTSIDE BARBER'S SHOP VARIOUS OF QUINTANILLA CLEANING HIS BRUSHES / COMBS
- Embargoed: 11th January 2020 18:55
- Keywords: Bolivia Christmas homeless season
- Location: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001BBW3J9F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Days before the year comes to end, dozens of volunteers were hard at work helping homeless people from La Paz get a proper hair cut, take a hot shower and eat a soothing meal.
The initiative was started by the Church of the Good Samaritan, who raise money every year to buy clothes, food and medicine for hundreds of helpless people to raise their self-esteem and bring some joy to their lives.
Thirty-nine-year-old hairdresser Luis Quintanilla is one of the frequent volunteers who offers his talent and gives up his time to cut people's hair. Quintanilla is also a councillor at the Gualberto Villarroel school and offers a kind ear and advice to those suffering from different problems ranging from addiction, health and economic turmoil.
Quintanilla is able to relate to many of these cases as he also came from a broken home and extreme poverty, which led him to start drinking from the tender age of 14.
He decided to turn his life around and quit drinking when his son was born. Although he succumbed to his addiction on several occasions, including once when he was beaten up by a homeless person, he was victorious in the end after he turned to the Church for spiritual guidance.
He now talks to youngsters about the perils of leading a life fuelled by drugs and alcohol and this have given him great satisfaction.
(Production: Monica Machicao) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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