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NGO Profile: The Rainbow Foundation

Posted: Mikaela on Mar 02 | Education & Youth, NGOs & Organizations, Uncategorized

The Rainbow Foundation (Fundacion Arco Iris) is a Catholic NGO based in La Paz that fights against the discrimination, marginalization and lack of opportunity that thousands of young people suffer. They focus specifically on orphans, children of the incarcerated, victims of domestic violence, and those who live or work in the streets of La Paz.

Their vision is that every person regardless of age, race, social condition or gender, by virtue of their dignity is able to be for him/herself a responsible agent of their own well being, moral progress, and spiritual development.

Founded by the German priest Jose Maria Neuenhofer in 1994, The Rainbow Foundation was formally incorporated in 1997. Their mission has three major points: They seek to provide essential support, including food, shelter, medical care, clothing, tutoring and professional training, social support, mental health counseling and legal help. Secondly, they aim to create processes that support stability and self-esteem of each client and foster the independence of each child. Finally, they aim to eradicate the structural causes that produce marginalization, lack of opportunities, ignorance, indifference and the crisis of values. In addressing these needs, they seek to focus on responding to expressed needs instead of constructing a program that imposes a structure on each individual. Father Jose was honored as Bolivia’s Person of the Year in 2009.

The Rainbow Foundation works with more than 100 professionals, including psychologists, educators, doctors, and social workers, who conduct various programs that serve roughly 5000 youth.

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