ALALAY was founded in 1990 through the initiative of Claudia Gonzáles, the organization’s current executive director, with the mission of restoring the fundamental rights of children and adolescents who have made the streets their home.

ALALAY means “I feel cold,” reflecting the cold of countless nights spent in unprotected places, the freezing temperatures that penetrate to the bone, and the desperation of thousands of children who survive on the streets to escape the chills that haunt them.

On July 23, 1993, the first shelter was inaugurated at 648 Pisagua Street, on the corner of Montes. It was a small, old house designed to house 30 children. The shelter’s organization was simple: two educators and a few volunteers worked under the direction of Claudia González.

Over time, each new home has been built thanks to the dedication and commitment of the many people who have been part of this project throughout these 35 years, expanding its services to the departments of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Tarija, and establishing a stronger presence in departmental, national, and international networks dedicated to the protection of children and adolescents.