Welcome to South America!

Today, we’re visiting three countries in South America: Colombia, Bolivia and Peru! 

But, before we go, it’s important to know: Indigenous people were the very first people groups to call these countries their homes. They were living there thousands of years before anyone else. And many are still there today! 

We’ll learn about Indigenous people and others who live in Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. 

Ready to go? ¡Vamos! That means "let's go!" in Spanish. But, you knew that! 

Colombia 

Where is Colombia? 

Colombia is at the top of the continent South America.  

In fact, it’s nicknamed the “gateway to South America” because it shares a border with Panama, which is in Central America. It shares borders with other countries, too, like Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. 

What does Colombia look like?  

Colombia’s geography is amazing! 

It’s the only country in South America that has two coastlines. That means that it touches both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.  

But Colombia isn’t just beaches.  

Big mountains called the Andes Mountains run through Colombia. More than one-third of the country is in the Amazon rainforest. And there’s even five deserts in Colombia! 

Who lives in Colombia? 

One hundred and fifteen different Indigenous groups live in Colombia. Together, they speak 65 different languages! Most people speak Spanish. But lots of people speak other languages too. 

Let's meet two groups: 

• The Wayuu (WHY-oo). The Wayuu people live in the desert. They are skilled craftspeople and make beautiful bags called mochilas (moh-CHEE-lahs). Every bag has a special pattern. Kids learn how to make them by watching their moms and grandmas. 

• The Kogi (KOH-ghee). The Kogi people live high up in the Andes Mountains. They call themselves the "Big Brothers” and believe it is their job to take care of the Earth for all of us. 

Many people in Colombia also have families who came from Africa long ago. Their music, dancing and food play a big part in Colombian culture, too. 

What animals live in Colombia? 

Colombia has nearly 10% of all plant and animal species on Earth!  

Here are a few examples of some of the many animals that live in Colombia:  

— Andean bears. People call them spectacled bears because they have light colored fur around their eyes that makes them look like they’re wearing glasses. 

— Pink river dolphins. These dolphins are the largest freshwater dolphins in the world.  They live in the Amazon River. And yes, they really are pink! 

— Jaguars. Jaguars live in four different regions in Colombia. Unlike the cats we keep as pets, these large, wild cats love water! You can often find them hunting or even playing in rivers. 

What’s it like to grow up in Colombia?  

If you went to school in Colombia, a lot would feel the same as home. Kids learn math. Kids trade snacks. Kids argue about who the best soccer player is. 

Some things would be different. School often starts very early. For lunch, you might eat an “arepa” (ah-REH-pah). It's warm and made from corn, with melty cheese inside. Yum! 

And at recess? Almost everyone plays soccer. In Colombia, they call it fútbol (FOOT-bol).  

And just like in all countries, some kids in Colombia have a hard time. Some families don't have enough food. Some don't have a safe place to live. 

That's why SOS Children's Villages is there. We help make sure that every kid has a warm home, food to eat and a school to go to. 

Bolivia 

Where is Bolivia? 

Bolivia is in the middle of South America. It shares borders with Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay. 

What does Bolivia look like?  

Bolivia is a landlocked country, which means it doesn’t touch an ocean.  

But the Andes mountains and the Amazon Rainforest are both in Bolivia. 

And it has Salar de Uyuni, which is the biggest salt flat on Earth! It’s so big that astronauts can even see it from space. 

Who lives in Bolivia? 

It’s estimated that 40-60% of people in Bolivia are Indigenous.  

And Bolivia has 37 official languages! One is Spanish—a language brought to Bolivia by colonists in the 1500s—and the other 36 are Indigenous languages. 

Bolivia has two flags, too! 

— One is red, yellow and green with stripes. 

— The other is the Wiphala, which is a square made of 49 rainbow squares. It represents the Indigenous people of the Andes. 

What animals live in Bolivia? 

— Blue-throated macaws. These bright blue and yellow birds live only in northern Bolivia. They love to eat fruit. When they drop the seeds, more trees grow! They’re like little gardeners.  

— Maned wolves. Maned wolves are the tallest wild dogs in the world! They’re nicknamed “foxes on stilts” because of their long legs.  

— Gray titi monkeys. These fluffy monkeys are tiny—only two and a half pounds! They love their families so much they even twine their tails together when they sit down. 

What’s it like to grow up in Bolivia? 

Many kids in Bolivia speak two languages. They speak Spanish at school. They might speak an Indigenous language at home. 

In the city of La Paz, kids ride to school in the sky! La Paz sits high in the mountains. So instead of trains under the ground or buses on roads, they built cable cars up in the air. You float right over the rooftops. 

After school, some kids play fútbol (we call it soccer). They play with their friends. They help their families. But, just like in other countries, some kids in Bolivia are growing up in poverty. 

Some live far from a school or a doctor. Some have to work to help their family. Some don’t have enough food to eat or clean water to drink.  

SOS Children's Villages works in Bolivia to help kids grow up with the food, doctors and education they need.  

Peru 

Where is Peru? 

Peru is on the west coast of South America. It shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile. 

What does Peru look like?  

Peru’s geography is made up of three different areas: the coast, the mountains and the jungle! 

Peru’s coast is more than 1,500 miles long. Because the tall Andes Mountains block rain from reaching the coast, it’s a sandy, rocky desert. That’s right—a desert on the beach! 

Speaking of the Andes, this long mountain range runs right through the middle of Peru. There’s even a mountain that looks like a rainbow! It’s called Vinicunca, and it has vibrant green, yellow and pink stripes caused by the minerals in the Earth. 

Lastly, the jungle! More than half of Peru is covered by the Amazon Rainforest, which has existed in South America for 55 million years. 

Who lives in Peru?  

Have you heard of the Inca? They were an ancient Indigenous civilization and the largest empire in South America. You might have heard of an amazing city they built, Machu Picchu, which people from all over the world still visit today 

The descendants of the Incans are still in Peru today! 

Millions of people still speak Quechua, which was the Incan language. Some kids learn to speak it in school and some families speak it at home. 

And guess what? You might already know some Quechan words! Words like llama, puma, poncho and jerky. 

What animals live in Peru?  

— Humboldt penguins. Wait, penguins in a desert? Yes! These penguins live on Peru’s warm, rocky coast. When it gets too hot, blood rushes to the pink skin on their faces to help them cool off! 

— Peruvian hairless dogs. These furless pups have lived in Peru for more than 2,500 years! Kings and queens in the Inca Empire kept these dogs as cherished companions. Smart, sweet and honored as one of Peru’s national symbols, these dogs are still loved and kept as pets today! 

— Vicuña. At only three feet tall, they look like small llamas. But these wild animals are actually part of the camel family! During the Inca Empire, vicuñas were seen as special animals. Only royalty was allowed to wear clothes made of their soft, fine wool! 

What’s it like to grow up in Peru?  

Some kids in Peru walk to school way, way up in the mountains. The air up there is so thin it can make you dizzy! 

Kids in Peru might eat lomo saltado for lunch, a yummy beef dish served with French fries. They cheer for their fútbol team. And in some mountain villages, kids help take care of llamas and alpacas. It's a little like walking a dog—but bigger and fluffier! 

But, as we know, there are children in every country who are growing up in poverty. Sometimes, they don’t have enough food to eat. Some kids might not have access to clean water or electricity. Some kids live in areas where flooding can destroy their homes. 

That’s why SOS Children's Villages is there. We work anywhere there are children who need a helping hand, so every kid has a safe home, a full belly and someone who believes in them.