Amigos de Potosí

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Amigos de Potosí is a foundation ran by Dutch volunteers and local Bolivian volunteers. The foundation started after the visit of a group of Dutch tourists and their tour leader (Margret Kamphuis) to the mines of Potosí in 1994, They felt the urge to do something to improve the living conditions for mineworkers and their families in Potosí, Bolivia. Our first project started in 1994 and the foundation was established in 2002.
Amigos de Potosí wants to help mine workers and children of Potosí (Bolivia) to better their living situations. We aim to help young people by offering them an alternative to working in the mines.
The small projects we effectuate on and around "Cerro Rico" (Rich Mountain) for the children in Potosí, are initiatives of the locals themselves. The locals are involved in the projects and are the only ones that benefit from them. Direct aid that really works.

Our goals
• Increasing the quality of the working and living conditions of the miners and their families is our main goal. We strive to find durable solutions and work together with the beneficiaries.
• Improving the quality of education and motivating youths to go to school is a very important part of our mission. Going to school and receiving a proper education decreases the chance that children are going to work in the mines. It increases the possibility to start a different profession in order to sustain themselves. Currently we are especially investing in education in the rural areas around Potosí. By providing schools with computers, internet, sanitation blocks, greenhouses or other types of investments, education is made more interesting for both the students and teachers.
• Also, Amigos de Potosí would like to bring the situation in Bolivia to the world’s attention. We want to raise awareness regarding the benefits of International cooperation and the importance of education.

Projects
• Sustainable greenhouse primary school Laja Tambo
• Bread baker education in Potosi
• Music project primary school San Ildefonso
• Centro comunitario (community centre) in Laja Tambo
• Water for the children's day-care centre with the mine Caracoles in Potosí
• Rebuilding of the vegetables hothouse with a firm roof and other improvements.
• Computer and internet project
• Projects for school children
• Projects for miners
• Solar showers and greenhouses chiutara baja and negro tambo
• 10 wash places and a water pump for boarding school Vitichi

Margret Kamphuis is the Director/Secretary of Amigos de Potosí.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.