Huaraca is an agricultural community in Bolivia’s Potosi region and home to a regionally important and well-regarded High School. Maria travels several hours each day to study there, hoping to one day attend university to study biochemistry.
To reach the school, students must traverse the Huaraca River, which during the rainy season becomes wide, fast and very dangerous to traverse. So dangerous that while risking a crossing, Maria was swept away downstream. Community members were able to pull Maria to safety but sadly, in the three years previous, five others had been killed and 20 more injured while attempting the crossing.
Today, a 52 meter bridge spans the river and 500 people previously cut off from markets, jobs, medical treatment, and school for months at a time, can safely and reliably go about their lives. And like Maria, safely pursue their dreams.
