Open sewers graze broken sidewalks, ruined and half-built buildings are marred with graffiti, and beggars beseech any eyes cast their way. Springing up in some 15 years, the city of El Alto exploded onto the lunar-like landscape. CARE has established a strong presence in this area, addressing a variety of needs including infrastructure repair, reproductive health care, water and sanitation and girls' education. A Classroom that Cares The inhabitants of El Alto have, in large part, migrated from rural areas of Bolivia's vast altiplano . The lure of the city is strong.
People hope to find work, or at least gain access to basic health or water services.
But the reality is dire. There is not enough work to go around. Unemployment is rampant. In many ways, adolescent girls bear the brunt of the dysfunction born of poverty here. Jayne Lyons, CARE Bolivia's reproductive health sector manager explained.