Bolivian Quaker Students Need Your Support

Winter, 2024

“…in reciprocity, we can reclaim our sense of ourselves as givers, as well, as full participants in the flourishing of the world. And that’s joyful. It gives you a sense of kinship and purpose…”

- Practical Reverence, An Interview with Robin Wall Kimmerer, Emergence Magazine Podcast, 11/21/24.

Dear Friends,

There are so many timely messages in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s new book, Serviceberry. Reflecting on her ideas of gratitude and reciprocity, it occurred to me that what we are doing at BQEF is sharing our gifts of time, money, and knowledge, to make possible deeply transformative educational experiences. Through these experiences, and the many relationships that form along the way, we find our gifts which Kimmerer says will help us lead “purpose driven lives”.

We hope you will enjoy this collection of highlights from this year, updates on important changes, and exciting plans for 2025. We wish you and your community joy and light, during the holidays,

Rebecca Day Cutter, BQEF Coordinator

Bolivia is experiencing a currency crisis,

with inflation rising to 10%, compared to the US's 2.7%. Fuel shortages are driving up transportation and food costs, while dwindling foreign reserves are limiting access to dollars for imports and debts. Additionally, political tensions ahead of the August 2025 presidential elections, are complicating the situation further.

Concerned about our scholarship students' ability to keep up with the rising cost of living, we’ve increased the scholarship per student from $60 to $80/month.

These articles will give you a broader perspective on the situation in Bolivia:

New board members in the US and Bolivia bring fresh energy, valuable experience and new skills to our work!

BQEF is undergoing a significant transformation. This month, we celebrated the retirement of Bernabe Yujra Ticona, who worked for 23 years as the Coordinator for our sister organization, Fundación Quakera de Educación de Bolivia (FQEB). Bernabe, a close friend of Newton Garver, (BQEF Founder) leaves behind a remarkable legacy, having helped over 250 students graduate from the university. In a wonderful gesture of giving back, five of these graduates have joined FQEB’s new board of directors. This transition is truly amazing as our graduates circle back to support current and future scholarship students! Some of the new board members are from the very first scholarship cohorts, while others are more recent graduates, enthusiastically ready to dive in.

Furthermore, after many years of dedicated service, Helen Hebben (Michigan) stepped down from the BQEF board earlier this year. Jens Braun (New York) will also be stepping down, after 20+ years with BQEF during which he has played an important role teaching Alternatives to Violence Workshops and communicating in fluent Spanish with our partners in Bolivia. We are grateful for their service and they will be greatly missed!

After hosting a Quaker Study Tour in July, two participants from the tour, Penny Thron-Weber (Colorado) and Charley Basham (Alaska) joined our board, along with Brenda Simkin (Pennsylvania) whose mother, Jane, served on the BQEF board for many years.

This month, we held a very special gathering on Zoom to hear final reflections from 10 students who graduate this month and to express words of gratitude to Bernabe and Jens who will be retiring at the end of the year.

We were joined by members of the new FQEB Board in Bolivia, graduates, several BQEF Board members from the US, and a handful of our donors who were eager to hear

student reflections on their approaching graduation, the challenges they faced along the way, and their next-steps.

Collaborations with BQEF Scholarship Graduates

In 2025, we are excited to begin collaborating with Magaly Quispe, a BQEF scholarship graduate, to provide Alternatives to Violence Workshops for our scholarship students. Magaly is the founder and Coordinator of PAV Bolivia. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in sociology. The two, weekend-long workshops will be held during student vacations in January and July, at a boarding house for rural students in the town of Sorata (project of Waljok and PAV Bolivia). We hope these experiences will deepen the understanding and practice of Quaker values while fostering solidarity among students.

Ruben Hilari, BQEF scholarship graduate and founder of Jaqi Aru a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and practice of Aymara language was a motivational speaker for several scholarship student gatherings in 2024. He recently completed his master’s in linguistics, and one of our new board members, Charley Basham, also a linguist, is helping him find scholarships for his PhD studies in the U.S.

Meet a Scholarship Student

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Juan Josue Machaca Javier, and I’m a third year student in the Music Education degree program at the “VILLA AROMA” Teacher Training School. My university is located in La Paz – Oruro in the town of Lahuachaca. I rent a room in the same neighborhood so my commute is not too long.”

“This semester, I took part in a contest focused on the Original Dances of Bolivia, which are at risk of being forgotten. The dance we showcased is called Balseros, from the Uru Culture, originating from the shores of the River Desaguadero. We conducted thorough research into their traditions, culture, and experiences. Thanks to our dedication and teamwork, we won the competition. As champions, we will travel to Santa Cruz to represent our school on a national stage.”

In July, a group of nine Quakers from across the U.S. traveled to Bolivia for a two week Study Tour (QST) where we connected with current students and graduates who shared their hopes and dreams for exciting work in their fields. This picture is of Juan Jose with his charango (Andean stringed instrument) before a performance at the QST gathering with scholars. Hearing the students’ stories of overcoming obstacles, and their aspirations for the future was inspiring.

With your support, in 2025, we will…

Welcome ten new students into our scholarship program.
Provide Basic and Advanced Alternatives to Violence workshops to our scholarship students.
Support three on-line conferences with scholarship students and graduates on topics chosen, organized and delivered by students.
Host a Visiting Scholar to the U.S.

It is heartwarming to feel the support of Quaker Meetings, families and individuals who are joining us in providing access to education in Bolivia. If you have not yet made a donation this year there is still time and your support makes a huge difference.

Giving online just got easier!

Through Friends Fiduciary, you can make a one time donation, set up a recurring donation, designate Donor Advised Funds, and Securities to BQEF. The fees are significantly lower at 3% for credit card donations or a $.26 processing fee for ACH, all you need is the routing number and account number from the bottom of your check. We thank you!

DONATE

Looking Ahead! 2026 Quaker Study Tour

We’re excited to begin planning our next QST for 2026 - the exact dates are still to-be-determined. If you or someone you know is interested in participating it is not too soon to fill out the Expression of Interest Questionnaire. We will reach out with more details.

(Below: Rebecca Day Cutter, BQEF Coordinator, with scholarship students at an Apthapi (Andean potluck) of traditional foods during the Quaker Study Tour.)