Bolivia 22.08.2008 - 07.09.2008

Motivation

Why would Bolivians hit each other during the traditional dance Tinku, what else does Bolivia have to offer apart from Llamas and panpipes, who exactly is Pachamama and how come Bolivians eat tangerines when they are still green?

Our journey to Bolivia will not only offer us some interesting answers to these questions, but also enable us to discover the peculiarities of this land-locked country located between the truly “breathtaking” highs of the Andes, the natural wonders of the tropical rain forest surrounding the Amazon and the endless Pampas. However, Bolivia’s diversity is not restricted to geography only. Beyond the impressive natural wonders the country features an eclectic mix of different ethnic groups, full of social, economic and cultural diversity.

Goal

Trying to overcome its colonial past, South America’s poorest country is engaged in a globally unique democratic emancipation process. In 2005 Bolivia elected Juan Evo Morales Ayma, the first indigenous head of state in modern Latin American history. Now, Evo and his government are trying to restore the country from scratch despite all the political habits that shaped Bolivia for so long.

Trying to weed out corrupt politics and systematic discrimination of the many minorities, Evo’s government provokes resistance from broad parts of society. Similar to Venezuela, the country is polarized over its leader and his ideas on how to end poverty and give young people more perspectives.

Through encounters with students, women activists, high government representatives, street children, ambassadors, oppositionists, social movements, representatives of foreign business, market-women, youth activists, NGOs and amateur soccer players, we intend to discover how Bolivians live and perceive the changes undertaken by Morales' government. We will question them on the efficiency of the reforms, and whether they believe the government policies are finally putting an end to general poverty, dependence, lack of perspectives and exploitation.