About Us
Who we are
The Help Bolivia Foundation was founded by Matt and Lydia Hill following a trip to Bolivia in March 2018. The foundation is incorporated in Alberta, Canada.
Recognizing the immense needs of the Bolivian people living in extreme poverty, particularly the children, Help Bolivia is focusing its efforts on alleviating this poverty by providing programs that support the nutritional and educational needs of underprivileged children, as well as training programs for underprivileged women and youth.
Incorporated as a charitable society in May 2018, the Help Bolivia Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. A close partnership exists with Help Bolivia Foundation in Canada and the Sariry Foundation in El Alto , which administer our programs.
Board of Directors
Matt Hill
Matt is a Founder and the President of HELP Bolivia Foundation, and has many years of project management experience and a passion for landscape photography. While raising three children with Lydia, he volunteered with 1st Airdrie Beaver Scouts, coached in the local children’s soccer league, and helped the local food bank. A trip to Bolivia in 2018 sparked a passion to do something for the children and families of El Alto to help them realize their potential and overcome challenges they face in Bolivia today.
Lydia Hill
Lydia is a Founder and the Secretary of HELP Bolivia Foundation. She has been involved in charity work and non-profits since 1997, has sat on several charity boards helping children in developing nations, and was an active volunteer with UNICEF for 17 years. Lydia’s interest in Bolivia started with a research paper about Bolivia in the late 1990s. Soon after she and Matt began sponsoring Bolivian children, and helping Bolivian women entrepreneurs with micro loans. Lydia works in the specialized area of Aboriginal law on behalf of First Nations, and is very familiar with the social issues that are found in marginalized communities.
Henny Borsje
Henny sits as Board Treasurer For HELP Bolivia Foundation, and is pleased to bring her financial skills to the table. Henny has 4 children and 8 beautiful grandchildren, all in Canada. She is grateful for all that she has been able to provide for her family, and is happy to help families in Bolivia who are not as fortunate.
Louise Lawrence
Loui holds a degree in Marketing, and is pleased to bring her knowledge, skills, and fabulous ideas to HELP Bolivia Foundation. She has sponsored girls in South America for almost 20 years, and is excited about making a difference in the lives of the children at the Tahuantinsuyo Community Centre. For almost 5 years Loui lived part time in the Yucatan. She now calls Ottawa home, and works as a corporate trainer and content creator.
Bob Laws
Bob is a writer and blogger who volunteers as a writing mentor for developmentally challenged adults as part of the Long Table Creative, and works at events for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, often as a photographer. He has experience on the boards of non-profit and charitable organizations including the Alexandra Writers and Silver Springs Community Association. But, he’s keen to become involved outside of Canada and is excited about the opportunity HELP Bolivia offers to children in need.
Tammy Ovalle
Tammy’s family is from Guatemala, and she is fluent in Spanish. During her years in Guatemala her heart always went to less fortunate children. She tried helping different organizations with the opportunities that came her way. She very much enjoyed helping in building projects and feeding school children. They were big learning opportunities and she is happy to contribute to the Board of HELP Bolivia. She has a B.A. Organizational Communications from the University of West Florida and Human Resource Management Certification from the University of Calgary.