Ruben Magne at home

What did you picture when you heard about life he turned down? Cochabamba may look glamorous from far away, or even up close to a little boy who longed for freedom from poverty, but it is not a safe protector or provider.

Welcome to Bolivia

Here are some facts that might surprise you about Ruben’s home country, Bolivia:

  1. At 11,913 ft., La Paz, Bolivia is the world’s highest administrative capital city.
  2. The planet’s largest deposit of salt can be found in Bolivia. The Salar de Uyuni or salt flats or Uyuni salt beds hold more than 64 million tons of salt.
  3. Landlocked Bolivia maintains a standing navy, in preparation for the day it reconquers coastline lost to Chile in the 19th Century.
  4. The main exporter of Brazil nuts is not Brazil. It’s Bolivia.
  5. In Bolivia guinea pig is more than a childhood pet – it’s dinner. It is a local delicacy that’s unique to the highlands of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.
  6. The most dangerous road in the world is in Bolivia—“The Road of Death”. Only about 30% of all roads in Bolivia are paved (mostly in the city).

 

Bolivia contains 40% of ALL animal and plant life in the world, yet despite its diverse resources, it is still one of the poorest countries in Latin America.

  1.  According to the latest census carried out at the end of 2012, Bolivia has a population of just over 10 million, with 45 percent living below the poverty line.
  2. Bolivia’s infant mortality rate is between 68%  and 75%, it is also one of the highest infant mortality rate countries in South America, and almost 30% of infants under three suffer from chronic malnutrition.
  3. Bolivia has the highest income inequality in Latin America.
  4. About 24.5% of households with children under 5 do not have access to safe drinking water, making food preparation difficult.

You can be part of releasing Bolivian children from poverty in Jesus’ name, and become part of their world! Click here for more information about sponsorship.