The Quaker village of Pallcapampa is committed to educating its boys and girls, but the 90-minute walk to high school, and two hours back, has been a serious obstacle. So an internado (supervised student residence) was established near the public secondary school in Sorata in February 2006, with 13 students staying in a safe and supportive environment during the school week. For 2007 there are 19 students, 12 boys and 7 girls. In March 2007, the Internado moved to a more adequate building, with an option to buy, a move made possible by very substantial gifts from Irish Friends.

For most of these young people, it is the first time they have been able to attend school without walking several hours daily, the first time they've had guidance and support with homework, the first time they have slept in a real bed with a mattress, and the first time they been able to count on 3 good meals a day regardless of the weather, the harvest, or family hardships.

Benito Jallurana Quispe

This "Internado de Pallcapampa" is the fulfillment of a dream of former BQEF scholarship student Benito Jallurana. Benito, who made the 3½-hour walk for 3 years, has recently completed his university degree in alternative education with a specialty in administration of rural internados. He is now administrator (part-time) of the internado in Sorata.

Is it worth the cost? The students, whose career plans include teaching, architecture, and law, are clear about their career aspirations and their commitment to attend university. The average Bolivian's income is one-fifth that of the average Mexican's—often less than $300 a year in rural areas—but a college graduate earns $350 or more a month. So education changes lives dramatically for the individual, for the family, and for future generations.