Since 2005, the CERPI team — today led by Gilberto Torrez and Rodrigo Lora, supported by a dedicated group of volunteers — has been bringing the mobile school to two zones in the outskirts of Sucre.
Over the past two decades, this form of street-based education has grown into a cornerstone activity within these communities.

A challenging context, a consistent response

In many families in Sucre, poverty shapes daily life.
Although school enrollment in Bolivia has increased over the last 20 years, the school day remains limited to just a few hours — children attend only half a day (morning or afternoon shifts). Before or after school, many spend long hours on the street, work, or help their parents at the market. Safe spaces to play or learn are scarce.

In such a context, long-term presence makes a world of difference.
And twenty years of mobile school in Sucre has left visible marks on the lives of the young people who grew up around it.

Many parents in these neighbourhoods once stood at the mobile school as children themselves.
They remember the encouragement, the attention, the feeling of belonging — and the moment someone first asked them about their dreams. Today, these adults place greater value on education, school attendance has clearly increased, and children dare to dream of a better future.

A new chapter: trauma-informed learning & strengthening the team

Last week, as part of our continued support, I delivered a training on our new educational package “Facing Trauma”, designed to help children understand emotions, stress reactions and resilience.

Alongside the content training, we worked with the IPTK–CERPI team on train-the-trainer techniques, enabling local educators to better prepare new volunteers using our training modules and digital learning platforms.

We also strengthened skills in planning and evaluation, helping the team systematically reflect on their impact and adjust activities where needed.

Together with the team, we facilitated five sessions with children and young people in Lajastambo and Barrio Alegría, two communities where the mobile school has been active for many years.

Thanks to the deep trust IPTK–CERPI has built with families over time, the children were highly engaged and enthusiastic about the new games and activities.
The combination of CERPI’s long-term local presence, our trauma-sensitive tools and a strengthened educator team brought new energy to the mobile school work and created sessions with even more connection.

Grateful for two decades — and looking ahead

Reaching a 20-year milestone is more than an anniversary.
It is a recognition of:

• the dedication of the IPTK–CERPI team and everyone who has been involved in this project
• the resilience of the children and families who continue to show up
• the power of street-based education that adapts to the realities of young people, rather than expecting them to adapt to us

We are deeply grateful for this partnership — for the trust, the collaboration and the shared belief that every child deserves the space to grow, to dream and to be seen.

On to the next chapter.
And to the next generation of children in Sucre, who will continue to dream, learn and shape their own future — with a mobile school by their side.