In Bolivia, the number of people with disabilities has grown significantly in recent years. Between 2014 and 2021, the number of people registered in the Information System of the Single National Program for the Registration of Persons with Disabilities (SIPRUNPCD) increased from 53,147 to 100,218, representing an average annual increase of 9.6%.

This percentage includes all types of disabilities recognized by the country’s official registration system (UDAPE, 2022). This significant increase highlights the urgency of implementing inclusive policies and projects that respond to the diverse realities and needs of this population.
 
In this context, in the municipality of Jesús de Machaca, children and young people with different types of disabilities will be the protagonists of a project that goes far beyond planting plants: it will also sow dignity, autonomy and community.
 
What if the earth could teach us to be inclusive?

When we talk about inclusion, we often reduce it to abstract concepts. But in this project, led by Terre Sans Frontières (TSF) with the support of the Louise Grenier Foundation, inclusion takes concrete form: five solar tents and a daycare center have begun to be rebuilt with the participation of parents and local authorities. It is not just about infrastructure, but about creating an accessible and welcoming environment where children and young people with disabilities can learn, share and grow in tune with nature.
 
Good practices that germinate

The methodology is simple yet powerful: combining local agricultural knowledge with an adapted and inclusive teaching method. Mothers and fathers not only collaborate in rebuilding the solar tents, but also guide the land management process by sharing their knowledge. This intergenerational transmission strengthens family ties and, above all, boosts the self-esteem and sense of belonging of the young participants.

Additionally, working with the earth has therapeutic value: it promotes motor development, improves concentration, and strengthens social skills. It’s a well-rounded activity that promotes autonomy and emotional well-being.

This practice also finds support in academic literature. An article from the Petrie-Flom Center at Harvard Law School, titled “Disability-Inclusive Climate Justice Through Agroforestry,” analyzes how agroforestry can be a concrete way to advance the human rights of people with disabilities, particularly in rural contexts. The article highlights that this agricultural activity offers a wide variety of tasks and requires diverse knowledge, allowing for the effective participation of people with different types of disabilities.

From planting to marketing, physical, cognitive, technical, and social skills are required, opening up a wide range of inclusive opportunities. The text also emphasizes that for this inclusion to be effective, it is necessary to break down structural barriers such as social prejudices, lack of access to land and financing, and the absence of adequate training (Petrie-Flom Center, 2023).

These are precisely the aspects that this project in Jesús de Machaca seeks to address from the planning stage.