I was astounded to witness first-hand the huge changes in people’s lives that Etta Projects continues to make in Bolivia. Projects that our group was able to participate in included a water distribution system in a remote community; the building of ecological composting latrines; a medicinal plant workshop; and distribution of reading glasses. But there were a couple projects that really moved me. One was a workshop attended by about 30 women who have been training in Etta Projects’ health promoters program. This workshop was conducted by Dr. Katharine, Etta Projects’ amazing on-staff doctor. The training included a wide range of medical procedures, including, to name only a few, suturing, insertion of feeding tubes, cpr, and birthing babies! At the end of the workshop there was a “test” where the women demonstrated on each other what they had learned, including suturing! It is wonderful to know that several daughter of Etta Projects’ health promoters are beginning medical school to become doctors! But one of the most powerful projects I was able to participate in was the Girls Empowerment Project. This is a series of 12 workshops, beginning with topics like self esteem and self defense. There were about 30 girls, age 12-17. Menstruation was the topic the day I was able to attend. I can’t tell you how impressed I was with the rapt attention of every single one of these girls as they learned about the details of their bodily functions and cycles. There was a cumulative gasp when the moment of fertilization was explained, with the meeting of egg and sperm—‘Oh, THAT’s how it happens!!’ I was able to meet with several of the girls in a small break-out group. They were so excited to meet an American! I can’t tell you how moved I was when they thanked me (Etta Projects) repeatedly for teaching them things “we would never have learned anywhere else.” When asked what they had learned before about menstruation, one of them said she was told “it’s normal” and absolutely nothing else. This is easy to understand when you know that this girl’s mother had no more knowledge herself. When asked why they feel the information they are learning is important, one responded “I don’t want to get pregnant and have to drop out of school like some of my friends have!” When asked if they told friends who were unable to attend the workshops what they had learned, there was a resounding “Yes!!” It is so important to me that Etta Projects is able to continue this incredible work. Thanks for reading, and thanks for donating any amount.