Benita (28), a mother of five children, Elizabeth, Melissa, Isabel, Daniela and Cynthia who range from 11 to three months old lives in Lagunillas, Bolivia. Her family, like many of those we met in the remote communities of the district of Santa Cruz, moved here to find land.

All of the children who are of age attend school, though what that they are learning in class Benita does not know. She was only able to go to school through the second grade as she had a very large family (13 children), resources were limited and she was responsible for caring for her siblings. Two of her siblings died at a young age. Benita tells us that she wants her children to continue with their studies and would even move the family to El Puente (a larger village 2 hours away) in order to see them complete their schooling.  It is clear that she takes education seriously and she emphasized that she wanted a better life for her children. 

Life is challenging for the family. Benita’s husband works in the fields planting rice and corn. Working the land is very difficult, she says.  The family’s diet consists almost exclusively of rice which is sometimes accompanied by salad or an egg. Vegetables are hard to come by, however she does make an effort to purchase potatoes at least every few weeks. The family rarely eats any fruit, if so it is usually canned. Benita tells us that the village struggles with a consistent water supply. The only well in the village, a source of water for drinking, bathing and washing, is only 15 meters deep.

Benita’s family, as well as many of the other members of the community, get sick quite often. Eye infections are very prominent and fever due to a variety of illnesses is common during the rainy season. No medical care is available in the community and it is challenging and costly to travel to the closest town (approx. 2 hours away) where there is a clinic. When her family gets sick, they usually do not get care. The government doctor is supposed to come every two months but has not.  She is happy that we have come today and brought the doctor to her community, there is always a need.

When asked what makes her happy, Benita says that her children make her very happy as well as taking care of her home and her family. She is happy when land production is going well, though that does not happen very often. Her children enjoy playing hide and seek and marbles and the girls like to play with dolls.

In response to all of our questions for her, Benita asked why we were here and what it was like where we lived.

Vitamin Angels visited Lagunillas with field partners World Concern to distribute vitamin A to the children in order to boost their immune systems and supplement their nutrient deficient diets. In addition, an educational session accompanied by informational posters on the sources and benefits of vitamin A, and the symptoms and sources of parasites was given to the whole community.

Our thanks to Marcia Furst and Tom Schott of the Vitamin Shoppe for capturing this story while on a trip with Vitamin Angels.