Friends of Bolivia’s Annual Carnival Fiesta on Saturday 7th February at the Sacred Heart Church Hall, Wimbledon, was a resounding success.

Our  online tickets sales were sold out and over 200 people attended the Carnival party. We had traditional Bolivian food and desserts, traditional music and dances and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Friends of Bolivia would like to thank all those who helped make the party possible and specially those who attended, without whom we would not be able to help so many disadvantaged people in Bolivia.

Thank you very much!

In recognition of the plight of children  who live with their parents in prison, Friends of Bolivia sent help to Pintando Sonrisas (Painting Smiles) a small charity working in Bolivia for the benefit of children living within prisons. They help by teaching the parents crafts and simple trades to become self sufficient once out of prison. They will also provide Christmas presents for nearly 600 children. This coming Christmas they will concentrate their activities on the three prisons in La Paz; Penal de San Pedro, Women’s Correctional Centre in Obrajes and Women’s Correctional Centre in Miraflores.

Our work coincides with Prison Advice and Care Trust’s Prisoner’s Sunday 2014

Pintando Sonrisas – Painting Smiles

Sunday 14^th September  –  13:00 – 17:00

St. Mark’s Church Hall,
Compton Road,
Wimbledon,
London SW19 7ND

This event was a great success.

There was live entertainment, games, licensed bar and delicious BBQ food…

Friends of Bolivia celebrated Bolivian Mothers’ Day (which is on 27th May) with some delicious salteñas and typical Bolivian music and games on Sunday 25^th May at St. Mark’s Church Hall, Wimbledon, London SW19.

Saturday 22nd February 18:00 – 23:00
Sacred Heart Church Hall,
Edge Hill,
Wimbledon,
London SW19 4LU

Friends of Bolivia celebrated Bolivian carnival with an evening of traditional music, dance, delicious food and drink Bolivian style!

• Live Music
• DJ
• Traditional Bolivian Dances
• Salteñas
• Bolivian Food
• Licensed Bar

Friends of Bolivia turned 30!

Friends of Bolivia celebrated its 30^th Anniversary with a peña on 28^th September 2013 at

Sacred Heart Church Hall,
Edge Hill,
Wimbledon,
London SW19 4LU

An evening celebration of Bolivian Folklore

In 1983 the Bolivian Altiplano was hit by a severe drought, causing a food shortage which affected more than half the population. On hearing news of the devastation, a group of Bolivians living in London and their friends decided to get together to raise funds to help the victims of the disaster.  Their event proved so successful that what was intended as a one off fundraiser soon became a thriving venture and in January 1984 Friends of Bolivia was officially registered as a charity. Today, 30 years later, Friends of Bolivia is still run entirely by volunteers.  With virtually no administration costs, we continue to raise funds for a small group of projects which help vulnerable children, women and elderly people in Bolivia.

On Saturday 28 September Friends of Bolivia celebrated its 30th birthday with a Peña Folklórica.

Tickets for the peña included a welcome glass of bubbly, a delicious three course meal and a live stage show of folkloric music and dances from around the country.  A raffle was also be held on the evening, the top prize of which is was vase by renowned Bolivian ceramic artist Mario Sarabia, worth around £500.

Since 1983 Friends of Bolivia has helped to improve the lives of thousands of people in Bolivia.  We thank all the people who attended on 28 September to celebrate our achievements so far and helped us to raise the funds to be able to continue changing lives in Bolivia.