- Title: BOLIVIA: Poverty-stricken children line up for Christmas gifts in Bolivia
- Date: 23rd December 2013
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (DECEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WALKING TO STADIUM TO COLLECT GIFTS GENERAL VIEW OF CHILDREN HEADING TO STADIUM VARIOUS OF CHILDREN IN STADIUM WAITING TO RECEIVE GIFTS VARIOUS OF CHILDREN LOOKING AT STAGE SHOW VARIOUS OF STAGE SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) EVENT DIRECTOR OF RADIO FIDES, JOSELIN ROCHA, SAYING: "(Radio) Fides with the help of Carros de Fuegos (charity group) set up this campaign to bring smiles to the children. We're looking looking for any profits other than the pay off of a smile on our dear children. This year, 35 thousand smiles and 25 years of toys handed to children." VARIOUS OF TRANSPORT VEHICLES TRANSPORTING TOYS TO STADIUM CHILDREN LOOKING ON AT VEHICLES AND ASKING FOR TOYS VOLUNTEERS UNLOADING TOYS TO HAND TO CHILDREN VARIOUS OF TOYS BEING HANDED TO CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GIRL RECEIVING GIFT, LIZET AYAVIRI, SAYING: "I'm going to play with my doll and I am going going to sleep with my doll. I will play with her everyday. I'm very happy." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MOTHER, ELENA MAMANI, SAYING: "I have six children and I don't have enough money to buy gifts for my children, so I brought them here. We've had to sleep the day before to receive these gifts." CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN STADIUM AFTER RECEIVING GIFTS CHILDREN PLAYING WITH TOYS
- Embargoed: 7th January 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: People
- Reuters ID: LVA6ETY1TXAM7SUP02WPN2VFE883
- Story Text: Thousands of Bolivian children packed the soccer stadium in La Paz, Bolivia on Monday (December 23) to receive Christmas gifts in an annual event organised by local businesses and charity groups.
Over the past 25 years, Carros De Fuego, an organisation run by the Catholic Church, has been working with volunteers and businesses from all walks of life with one goal in mind: to give smiles to poor children in the cities of La Paz, El Alto, and Viacha.
Joselin Rocha from La Paz's Radio Fides said the pay off was seeing children's faces light up when they received their gift.
"(Radio) Fides with the help of Carros de Fuegos (charity group) set up this campaign to bring smiles to the children. We're looking looking for any profits other than the pay off of a smile on our dear children. This year, 35 thousand smiles and 25 years of toys handed to children," she said.
Tens of thousands of children waited in bleachers as clowns and dancers entertained. Volunteers worked quickly to unload the thousands of gifts and distribute them to an endless stream of kids.
"I'm going to play with my doll and I am going going to sleep with my doll. I will play with her everyday. I'm very happy," said happy child Lizet Ayaviri.
For many poor families, the annual event in La Paz will be their only chance of gifts this season.
"I have six children and I don't have enough money to buy gifts for my children, so I brought them here. We've had to sleep the day before to receive these gifts," said mother, Elena Mamani.
Bolivia is one of South America's poorest economy with an estimated 20% of its population living in extreme poverty.
The show of solidarity and compassion is important for these children as many of them never grew up with toys. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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