“CAMPO AMIGO BOLIVIA ” January 2008

THE FIRST CAMP FOR YOUTH LEADERS IN DIABETES COCHABAMBA , BOLIVIA

The program held outside Cochabamba was attended by 26 youth with diabetes from six departments of Bolivia : Cochabamba, La Paz, Tarija, Potosí, Beni and Santa Cruz respectively. The team also collaborated with a local youth leadership group from La Paz called “Inti Watana” who led various leadership activities during the first day of the program.  The principle focus of the camp was the importance of working together as a community of youth with diabetes while offering an opportunity for youth to learn from other youth with diabetes.

            As the program progressed it began clear that the needs of the Bolivian diabetes community are great. Some regions lack health professionals trained in diabetes while others frequently lack access to the medical supplies they need to control their blood sugars. In order to account for the range of socio-economic backgrounds of the participants the motto of the program was to be prepared for: Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. That is to say, Plan A – meant testing your blood sugar with strips, Plan B meant learning to test your urine with urine strips to check for high blood sugars and Plan C (the last resort) meant learning to test your urine for stickiness (an indication that blood sugar is high). By teaching the participants to plan for periods when supplies are scarce, we were able to provide a level of diabetes education that was appropriate for all local youth with diabetes.

While it is clear that the need for education and empowerment for the youth diabetes community of Bolivia is great, the passion, strength and hope instilled in these young people is greater. AYUDA has the opportunity to transform the lives of many young people living with diabetes throughout the country. The participants were inspired by stories of Ecuador and the realities that our Ecuadorian youth leaders with diabetes, Henry and Rodrigo, have experienced as a result of their work with AYUDA.

            The departure from camp left everyone with a strong sense of unity and compassion but above all with an urgency to create change within the Bolivian diabetes community at the local and national levels. AYUDA has already begun to inspire young people with diabetes to take control of their current realities. They have learned that there is another way. AYUDA would like to thank Dr Patricia Blanco for her energy, passion and dedication to the cause and the strength and courage of the volunteers. We couldn't have done this without you!

                                                                   ¡Juntos somos más fuertes!