Centro Colibri

Dear friends near and far,

I am reaching out to you today to ask you to help me support my friend and colleague, Carolina Ortiz, who is providing a service to her community through her non profit - Centro Colibri (Hummingbird Center) in Montero Bolivia.

I met Carolina several years ago when I was volunteering in Bolivia. She worked daily to help me translate while I worked at the Cruz Roja (Red Cross Clinic) and at the Albuergue (orphanage for girls). Unknown to me at the time, Carolina had been systematically raped by a close relative from a very early age.

It came as a shock to me to learn how common domestic rape and abuse is in Bolivia, and not as much of a surprise of how it is hidden within the walls and it is the victim who is shamed and forced into silence and submission.

Now an adult, Carolina has founded Centro Colibri – a place of refuge for victims of rape and abuse, where through various programs she is offering girls and young women a safe place and a chance to heal. She is running the center completely on her own and when I spoke with her to understand what kind of support and help she needs it became obvious that moral support and monetary funds to help support and expand the program were the priorities. Carolina works in rural Bolivia, trying to reach victims from very poor families and overcome the stigma and the silence and to help these girls raise their self-esteem and learn skills to help them move forward emotionally and physically. The program is run on a very low budget and is mainly supported from volunteer psychologists, workshop teachers, and donors. Carolina’s goal is to extend the program where she not only is able to reach and support more people, but can also arrange preventive seminars at schools and community centers and extend the program to boys.

Carolina and I have remained friends throughout the years and I now proudly sit on the Board of Directors of Centro Colibri, her dream and passion to help other women that have suffered domestic sexual abuse as well as to work within her community to help educate and put an end to sexual abuse. Carolina has worked tirelessly to be trained and educated to help others and has been providing services to her community for 2 years.

If you can help financially so Carolina can extend her program, please donate to this fund raiser. If you know a business that would be willing to become a regular donor to the program (a small amount can provide a lot in rural Bolivia) please share this information and reach out to me. If we can help heal one person or prevent one trauma from happening altogether then we are all making this world a little kinder. Thank you.

With my sincerest gratitude,

Stacey