Voix Libres

Presented by Marianne Sébastien, President and Founder

Voix Libres does not combat poverty, but helps those who are totally destitute to recover their human dignity, however poor they may be, by paying careful and respectful attention to their sufferings...in a spirit of loving care.

“I lived in constant terror when night came to the mine”, Maria tells us. “I was beaten, abused and robbed…and then, thanks to your micro-credits, I became a woodworker. Over the past 6 months, I have trained 12 women and 4 young people to work with wood. Every day I help them to gain confidence in themselves, so that the sufferings of our mothers and ancestors will cease."

It all started with 12 children working in the depths of the mine. 15 years later, a ‘family’ of 560’000 beneficiaries in Bolivia and 25’000 friends in Europe share this utopia of justice and know that 100% of the donations, sponsorships and micro-credits go directly to Bolivia to finance projects in favour of its children.

I have immense admiration for the unrelenting efforts of the 200 and more Bolivian co-ordinators of whom a majority have experienced the hardships of life in the mines, on the garbage dumps and in the street. “When I was a child, I was a street seller and now I’m a lawyer. With Voix Libres, I dedicate myself to all those who have no rights at all. We are already active in half of the Bolivian territory, but with all the requests we receive, we will soon be working throughout the country…”

Community resilience means that by acting together, they rediscover their voices, they can sing after years of silence and fear and the consequences of their acts are multiplied beyond all hope. “I was stagnating among the garbage. Then I felt loved and understood and now I feel that everything is possible, in spite of my problems with alcohol. I got through agricultural college and now I’m going to help train tens of young people so that they can promote agriculture in their villages, thanks to micro-credits." Since 1994, over 100’000 people have used micro-credits to improve living standards and are now well on the way towards autonomy.

The poor are at the very heart of an economic system based on solidarity that they have invented themselves,  far removed from selfishness and the cult of the individual. This collective activity ensures decent and fair living conditions. Before, they were passive, impotent, forgotten slaves. Now they are becoming responsible for their own lives and for their communities. The children of darkness have created a world of hope and an economic development which cannot die because it springs from their hearts…and from yours.
Thank you for your valued, concrete commitment.