Antonio from Oruro, Bolivia describes the positive impact of Viva’s partner network when he was a child – and why he still believes in it today.

Read his testimony and watch it in the video at the bottom of the article.

My name is Antonio. I study in Oruro. I am 21 years old and I work with the children in my church.

While I was still at school, I was chosen to be part of the network leadership school and had the opportunity to join discussions of Viva’s network here. At the age of eight, I was discussing everything that concerned children and became a spokesperson for them.

This work continued to increase as I grew older, and I represented children in 2011 at the international parliament. All the children worked together and we were invited to present our thoughts and feelings.

Many things happened when I was growing up. I went through many difficult experiences. So, I was pretty mixed up inside. I was in a difficult space; a bit closed in.

Viva opened the door for me and gave me an opportunity, and things began to change in my life.

I have lived through a radical change. I was very quiet and afraid and I could never have imagined that I would be involved in something like speaking up for the rights of children and young people.

The more I was involved, the more I understood God’s love for me. This began to change my life. So now I am different.

The work that Viva Network Oruro does with the churches and others in
the community focuses on children. It is necessary, and I believe this is an essential way to helping children in Bolivia.

Viva trains children like me to be spokespeople, so they are listened to. I must complete my studies so that I can help others to complete their studies too – so that children can have access to state education and that they understand their rights. More than anything we must stop the bad things that happen to them.

We are living in difficult times and we must work to support the children to know they are not abandoned, but to come into the Kingdom of God, to know Christ.

I’m pleased to know that many more children will also experience the opportunity in life that I have been given.

This article first appeared in Life magazine, issue 12