Ana Callisaya

"I was all ready to begin my university studies, but then my father lost his job and told me that he could no longer afford to pay my fees. I was devastated, because I counted on being able to improve myself and help my family. Then hermano Bernabé told us of the possibility of a scholarship. I could hardly believe it. It seemed like a miracle."

Ana finished her Dentistry studies at UMSA in 2005 and went to work in a municipal government's medical center in Inquisive province. As a becaria, Ana wrote that she particularly needed the scholarship because of the clinical and laboratory work required in dentistry studies. The middle of three daughters of Victor and Luisa, Ana is a member of INELA yearly meeting.

In 2007, Ana approached BQEF about initiating a new "Healthy Students" program for Quaker schools in Bolivia. Ana and three then-current scholarship students attended the follow-up meeting. These four formed a “Committee on Health” and submitted a Good Health for Good Education proposal to provide basic health and dental education and examinations, and basic dental care, to 1000 children in six Quaker Schools in the Department of La Paz. The young adults who made the proposal will volunteer their time.

We are all deeply moved by the students’ commitment to using their education to serve others for the betterment of their communities and their country. And like Ana, many are already making a real difference!