INTER CAMPUS BOLIVIA: THE FUTURE LIES IN THE HANDS OF THE YOUNGEST GENERATION

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world but its land is rich in lithium, a potentially vital resource to drive the nation’s social and economic recovery.

The Inter Campus programme has been running in Cochabamba since 2008 in collaboration with Fundación Casari, involving around 150 boys and girls from the Ticti Norte neighbourhood. Over the last two years, a regular programme of remote activities has been provided for the children. ‘Reconnecting with your culture’ is one such activity which has taken place remotely. This educational project was sponsored by the International Research Centre with support from UNESCO. On the football pitch, however, COVID restrictions have made things a little more difficult.

Coaches travel regularly from Italy to the 30 countries where Inter Campus operates in order to observe the activities taking place. They are next expected to travel to Bolivia in May.

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America, especially among indigenous groups. A third of the population lives on less than two dollars per day.

It is a very diverse country geographically. Being close to the Andes means that on the west of the country there is a vast, arid plateau resting 3500 metres above sea level. In contrast, a lowland area criss-crossed with rivers stretches out to the east. And lying in between, Andean valleys bring these two disparate ecosystems together.

While it may be one of the poorest countries in the world, it is also one of the richest…

For centuries, lithium has remained untouched under the earth’s surface, a metal treated like useless waste. Today, however, engineers all over the world are working to design electric vehicles and soon the automobile industry will need millions of batteries. Lithium has become a treasure of immeasurable value. Who will extract it? And who stands to gain financially from it? Of course, the question of where we will dispose of the batteries remains a pressing one.

The white desert of Salar de Uyuni can be found on Bolivia’s plateau. It is so big that you can see it from the moon. Beneath this desert lies the largest reserve of lithium in the world. Bolivia could soon become the Saudi Arabia of lithium. With environmental sustainability, the recycling of raw materials and local security a priority, one of the major challenges we face in the future is modernising the extraction industries and ensuring that future generations receive proper training.

18.02.2022