Humanitarian, photographer and social activist Jessica Butler is appealing to locals for help in a cause she's become passionate about - helping Bolivian youth survive economic and social hardship.
Butler is hosting a multi-media presentation and silent auction fundraiser Saturday (Nov. 28) at the Burrow to raise awareness and funds for Camino el Futura, the youth employment project she initiated in the land-locked country bordering Peru and Chile.
Last winter Butler worked for six months in Sucre, Bolivia, for the NGO Proyecto Bolsa de Empleo - Fondacion Guia, an organization that provides financial and personal support as well as employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth in Bolivia.
During this time Butler initiated and carried through the work fair project, Camino el Futuro, which, translated, means road to the future.
"The idea of the work fair project was to bring together Bolivian professionals, artists, private business owners and, most importantly, the younger generation so they could exchange ideas, contacts, and information," said Butler.
The first half of the multi-media presentation will explore Butler's challenges and rewards of initiating the Camino el Futuro project and working for Fondacion Guia. The second half will explore the beauty and harshness of South America.
With the success of the project under her belt, Butler is returning to Bolivia in January to spend a year working for Fondacion Guia and organizing Sucre's second annual work fair.
"A lot of professionals who didn't want to participate in the first work fair are now on board for the second," said Butler.
Her goal before leaving Canada is to raise enough funds to hire Bolivian youth to help with the responsibilities of the work fair and, in turn, create a sustainable employment event that could be run by the local youth. Butler will also use her year in Bolivia to further develop a volunteer program.
"I realized when I was there last year that something had to be developed for volunteers who come to Bolivia for a week or two at a time but are unsure about they can help," said Butler.
Butler will receive an average Bolivian salary of 1,400 Bolivianos a month, which she says will help her learn what it's like to live as a Bolivian.
"There is a big dissection between the poor and rich. Life in Bolivia is not about pass times and activities, it's about work and supporting your families. For fun, I [and the kids in the organization] would go play soccer at an abandoned swimming pool, but something like going to the movies is an activity a rich person would do."
Prizes for the event's silent auction were donated by community members and businesses, and bidding will begin at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door. Find out more from Jessica Butler at [email protected].
