Children living on the streets in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Operation Restoration runs boys’ and girls’ homes to get children off the streets in Bolivia. Their homes help the children work through the multitude of issues they have faced including abuse, addiction, malnutrition and neglect to get them back in school, into a job and onto the front foot.
Maria Liz Rodas Garcia came to Operation Restoration in 2018 after losing both of her parents to cancer and spending years drifting between dysfunctional relatives before ending up on the streets. Through remarkable resilience and steady support from the team, she graduated from secondary school as an exemplary student and now dreams of studying medicine. In 2023 and 2024, she ran the virtual London Marathon from Santa Cruz, and in April 2025 travelled to London to run the race in person — helping raise more than £20,000. During her three-week visit, she bravely shared her story in 14 meetings across 11 locations, speaking to more than 350 people.
After returning home, Maria Liz entered a severe period of depression and anxiety, at times disappearing for days or weeks. Through relentless care — daily messages, late-night conversations, and staff physically searching for her when she withdrew — she slowly found her way back from the edge. With intensive support, she has now moved into Casa Alfa, the organisation’s girls’ reintegration home, where she is beginning to rebuild and prepare for university. While many details remain private to protect her dignity, her journey stands as a powerful testament to both vulnerability and extraordinary courage.
