A heart surgeon, his daughter, and a new future for children in Santa Cruz

BICENTENARIO, BOLIVIA

Building change

A heart surgeon, his daughter, and a new future for children in Santa Cruz

Festive moment at the construction site in Bolivia

From heart to heart

Wouter van Leeuwen — heart and aortic surgeon, Erasmus MC

Wouter van Leeuwen is a surgeon at Erasmus MC, where he operates on both children and adults.

operates on the heart: as a pediatric heart surgeon, he repairs congenital heart defects in the

smallest, and as an aortic surgeon he treats adults with conditions of the major

body artery. Day in, day out, his work revolves around the same thing: giving people a future again.

give

In 2027, he shifts the stakes to a completely different environment. Together with his daughter Sophia and

A group of young people travels to the Bicentenario neighborhood, on the outskirts of the Bolivian city.

Santa Cruz, as the medical leader of a World Servants project. No operating room this time,

but a construction site — and no scalpel, but bricks.

As a doctor, I reflect daily on what people need to move forward. This project provides

me and my daughter the opportunity to contribute there in a very different, practical way:

together with the Bicentenario community, building a place where children and families

can continue to grow further.

Meeting and play between volunteers and children during a World Servants project

The story behind Bicentenario

Nine years ago, Pastor Joaquin Ardava made a brave decision. As a former

As a professional footballer, he chose to give his life a different direction. Together with his wife

he started a shelter for vulnerable children. Children who are facing

difficult home situations, poverty, or even sexual abuse can find a safe place here where they

to be seen, heard, and helped.

Three afternoons a week – on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – children come after school.

to the center. Here they receive help with their homework and receive a warm meal.

For some children, this is the only nutritious meal they will have that day. Food that

What remains will be sent home in plastic bags.

A joint hot meal at the reception center

The center offers more than just daycare. There is a library where children can read books.

borrow and thus develop their love for reading. There is also a special 'Milk Bank', where

mothers can freeze or donate breast milk for other babies in need

have. In addition, families can obtain children’s clothing through a points system: by shopping at participating stores.

By contributing to the organization, they earn points that they can use to choose clothing.

In the center, children also learn practical skills, such as dealing with a

computer. On Sunday, the building is used for church services, which also means the center...

a place of meeting and faith is for the community.

Homework assistance for children from the neighborhood

All activities are made possible by donations. The food that the children receive is

for example, mostly donated locally. Income also comes from the sale of

bread – not a stable source of income, but the pastor doesn't worry about that:

God will help us!

The dream of Pastor Ardava reaches further. He wants to be able to help even more children by

to open multiple care locations. In the meantime, a second branch has already opened in Bicentenario,

where about 70 children are being cared for with the help of 15 volunteers. This location

is run by a young couple in their 20s, and is located about 45 minutes away from

the main office.

At this moment, this second location is still using a temporary building. The desire is to

to build a place of one's own: a safe and sustainable building with a dining hall, kitchen, and sanitary facilities

provisions. For this, there is already a piece of land available measuring 12 by 30 meters - currently only with just

some trees and plants on it.

With the help of For Vidas en World Servants, they hope to make this dream a reality. A

Having our own building means not only better facilities but, above all, a stable and safe place.

where more children can grow, learn, and gain future perspectives.

Project code BO127

Period July 19 – August 7, 2027

Group Closed group Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel

Location of the second establishment, Bicentenario (± 45 min. from main location)

Plot 12 x 30 meters

Reach ± 70 children, 15 local volunteers

Partner Organization For Vidas, Bolivia

More than a gift

We realize that a request for financial support can quickly feel one-sided. That is not the

intention.

We are not going to Bolivia just the two of us. Wouter and Sophia are traveling with a whole group.

youth, accompanied by eight leaders. Everyone in the group is individually committed to gathering money to...

collecting for the project – but as a group, we also like to put our shoulders to the wheel. Together

We devise and organize sponsorship activities aimed at both companies and individuals who support it.

to carry a warm heart for the project.

Better a reciprocation than just a donation

We prefer to engage with sponsors about a sponsorship action or consideration that suits them.

past – think of a presentation about Wouter's work as a heart and aortic surgeon, a contribution to

a company or association activity, providing materials or services, or a

another form of collaboration that we would like to shape in consultation. This creates a

reciprocal relationship instead of a one-sided gift. Of course, donations, big or small, are also from

warm welcome – every contribution helps.

Are you interested in setting something up together, individually or as a business? We would love to brainstorm with you.

you think about a suitable implementation.

For example, think of

A personal sponsorship campaign, such as a walking or running challenge - this is how a campaigner ran.

from our group recently 110 kilometers in 24 hours for this project

An action at work, such as a collection or a contribution from the company in exchange for

visibility or a presentation

A contribution from an association, church, or service club, possibly linked to a

existing event

A personal action in the friend group or neighborhood, such as baking, DIY projects, or a small auction.

The mission of World Servants

World Servants aims to inspire people to serve. Every year, about 800 young people travel.

with World Servants to development projects of partner organizations, in Africa, Asia,

Latin America or in the Netherlands itself. Together with the local community, they are building on

for example a school, a clinic or - as in Bicentenario - a center for children and

families.

Building not only changes the lives of the people on the spot, but also that of the

young people themselves: they encounter another culture, learn what it means to commit to someone else,

and come home with an expanded perspective. That is precisely what makes the motto of World Servants so

striking: building change – on both sides.

Join us – support the project

To make this journey and the project possible, Wouter and Sophia will raise funds in the coming year.

money in – along with the rest of the action group Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. Every contribution, big or small,

small, brings the construction of the center in Bicentenario closer.

Support the project directly:

Wouter van Leeuwen: geef.ws/woutervanleeuwen

Sophia van Leeuwen: geef.ws/sophia

Active together during a project

Festive conclusion of a sports tournament

Thank you for your support!

World Servants | Industrieweg 12c, Wolvega | 0561 - 614857 | info@worldservants.nl | www.worldservants.nl

IBAN: NL39 TRIO 0338 4163 31 | Foundations Register: 41003183

Scan, look, and support

On our personal action page, we keep track of how the fundraising for Bicentenario is going.

state. Scan the QR code with your phone's camera, or use the link below to go directly to a

make a contribution – or contact us to discuss a sponsorship action.

Wouter van Leeuwen

geef.ws/woutervanleeuwen

Sophia van Leeuwen

geef.ws/sophia

Each contribution brings Bicentenario closer.