Alalay (BO)

Alalay is a Bolivian organisation founded in 1990 by the current director, Claudia Gonzáles, to improve the living conditions of extremely vulnerable children and young people living on the streets in Bolivia’s capital, La Paz.

In 1993, the first orphanage opened, accommodating 30 children. It was run by two social educators and volunteers under Claudia’s leadership. Today, Alalay runs crisis centres, children’s villages, and football camps in Bolivia’s four largest cities: La Paz, El Alto, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz, reaching approximately 6,000 children each year. Since its inception, Alalay has helped around 22,000 children away from a life on the streets.

The organisation’s mission is to improve the economic, social, and care-related conditions of vulnerable children, young people, and their families through prevention and protection, in line with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Alalay has a deep knowledge and understanding of the extremely challenging situations faced by vulnerable children and young people, and their staff—social educators, street workers, and psychologists—seek out, support, and assist the children.

Alalay’s work focuses on building trust and relationships with vulnerable children and young people, guiding them from street life into play, education, and independence. The football camps are a crucial pedagogical method for reaching and engaging the children, teaching them about rights and values, and fostering self-esteem and strong, life-changing communities.