Jose's story

Cochabamba, Bolivia

12 year-old José’s day starts at 2am, when he gets up and gets ready for work. His family live in great poverty in an area of Cochabamba where there is much violence and alcoholism. Because of the family’s poverty, José has to work to help support his parents and five younger brothers. He starts work each day at 5am, transporting goods in a wheelbarrow. Working long hours meant that he fell behind in his studies and failed to pass the school year. Following this, his parents took him out of school all together so that he could spend time earning money in order to feed their large family. Spending increasing amounts of time working on the streets, José began to live there too, with a group of other children.

However, thanks to the work of Toybox, this situation has now changed. José was invited to join a Toybox project, which gives children a safe, fun place to go instead of spending time on the streets. José also receives help with his school work and his grades have improved greatly. He attends school again and also enjoys helping his younger brothers in their studies.

He likes playing football with his friends at the project and he now has high hopes for his future; he says:
“I want to be a police officer and help to stop the violence that is in my neighbourhood."