From Trauma to Hope: Healing and Transforming Lives of Vulnerable Children in Bolivia
In 2011, I was just a college kid looking for a way to give back and find some meaning in this world. For reasons I didn't fully grasp at the time, God led me down to Bolivia. I arrived in Cochabamba as a naive 20-year-old. I didn’t understand the complexities of global poverty, the daily reality for vulnerable children, or what my role should even be as someone coming from a place of privilege in Canada.
It was one of the most humbling and powerful experiences of my life. I learned quickly that I wasn’t there to "save" anyone. I was there to learn, to see God’s love in action, and—unexpectedly—to find a new family. After that trip, God spoke to me with a clarity I had never experienced before, and I knew I needed to be a part of these kids' lives for the rest of my life.
I made a promise then that as soon as I finished school, I’d come back to serve in any way I could be helpful. A few years later, I bought a one-way ticket to Bolivia and the rest is history. I started as a full-time volunteer at our boys' home, building deep connections and seeing firsthand the incredible resilience of these children. I saw how powerful God’s love is, and the miracles and transformations made possible through Him.
A Ministry for the most marginalized: Rooted in faith and love
At Niños con Valor, our ministry is about more than just providing a safe home for children. It’s about providing an opportunity for children to experience God’s grace and reclaim a sense of value. We specifically specialize in supporting children with complex medical needs and disabilities—little ones who have been neglected or rejected because their care is seen as too difficult or expensive. We believe these children deserve to know they are loved, and they deserve a second chance after the hardships of abuse, neglect and abandonment early in their life.
As Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us: "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
This work has never been a "solo flight."
The Story Behind Our Mission
Our story began in 2005 when our founders, Jacqueline Álvarez Daza and Endel Liias, saw the low value placed on the lives of Bolivia's most marginalized children. They realized quickly, after volunteering at underfunded children’s homes in the city, that they needed to create a new model of care—one that could better serve children in need and create new hope for their lives.
In this environment of faith and family, we opened our first home for girls in 2006, followed by a boys' home in 2009. We focused on the "gap cases"—integrating children with HIV and special needs whom other organizations often turned away. In a country that often warehouses children in large institutions, we fight to maintain a true family atmosphere where every child is fully loved, valued, and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Our story wouldn’t be possible without our amazing partner church in Cochabamba, La Trinidad Anglican Church. A missionary priest who was helping get this small church started at the time invited our children and staff to be part of this special community. Since then, this partnership has provided our children with a consistent community to worship, grow, and connect spiritually. For nearly twenty years, these children haven’t just had a roof over their heads; they’ve had a church family that sees them as vital, gifted members of the Body of Christ.
The Vision for 2026: Breaking the Cycle
We’ve also learned in the last 20 years that our role cannot be temporary. Most of our children come from generational cycles of trauma and poverty, and the hardest transition they face is at age 18 when a youth is suddenly expected to navigate the world alone.
Our 2026 Vision is focused on continuing how we improve accompanying our youth into adulthood. We are scaling our transition phases and have opened a new transition apartment to ensure that when a young adult leaves our care, they do so with a strong spiritual foundation, a sense of family, and a concrete plan for their future. Our vision is that every child discovers their God-given potential, growing into an empowered adult who not only thrives but lives with a clear sense of purpose—ready to give back to the world that once overlooked them.
An Invitation to the Table
The main reason we are able to do this work is because of the partnerships we hold with churches and communities in North America. To my brothers and sisters in the New Wineskins and broader Anglican community: we invite you into this story. Whether you feel called to explore volunteer opportunities, join us on a mission trip, or support this work through advocacy in your own parish, there is a place for you here.
It is through these partnerships that God’s kingdom is made visible in the streets of Cochabamba. We’d love to share more of this journey with you. Please visit our website to learn more, or reach out to us anytime to chat.
Craig Eby is the Executive Director of Niños con Valor. Craig’s journey with Niños con Valor began in 2011 during a mission trip to Cochabamba, Bolivia. Following a clear calling from God to serve more, he spent several years volunteering in the homes, deepening his commitment to the children and the foundation's mission.
Today, as Executive Director, Craig brings a Master’s in Global Development and extensive nonprofit experience from both international and Canadian contexts. He is passionate about sustainable, community-led care for vulnerable children and youth and strengthening global partnerships to invite people into the work in Bolivia.
Craig lives in Victoria, BC, Canada with his wife, Dina, and their 1 year old son, Luka. When he isn't advocating for the children of Bolivia, you’ll find him on the ice playing hockey, on the soccer field, or enjoying the outdoors in nature.
