ARCO IRIS - relief organisation for street children in La Paz / Bolivia

History and aims of the Fundación ARCO IRIS

In 1994 on commission of the Catholic church the German priest Josef M. Neuenhofer founded the Fundación ARCO IRIS (Rainbow in english). It offers a home for street kids, neglected teenagers and children who's parents are in jail. The Fundación has many goals. It aims to guide the children, by means of strong relationships, acceptance and a liberating self-education, on their way to human dignity and development of their personality.

Through support of various kinds, little by little, the following projects were created:

• Niñas Obrajes - Home for girls
• CET - Home for girls
• CATE - Home for boys
• Vivienda - Project for building houses
• Working with prisoners
• Streetwork
• Bank for children
• Health program
• A place where street children can go for lunch
• Literary development
• Workshops
• Hospital for street children with training centre
• Overnight home for street kids
• Casa de Paso

Arco IRIS is ...
... a rainbow, which symbolizes peace as a sign of hope.
	... a rainbow, which as a bridge of friendship and as a sign of solidarity connects people.
... a rainbow, which offers a guiding hand to those who can't escape the shackles of poverty and misery without support.
	... a rainbow, which transforms the tears and the darkness of the past into glamourous light and happiness for the future.
... a rainbow, connecting heaven and earth.
	... a rainbow, which is a protecting shelter over children, who are living in poverty and secluded from society on the street.