Yapay's story
starts with a question...

“What would giving a little more do?”

Yapay Bolivia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in Bolivia by improving education and healthcare access for women, children, and families in need. Founded in 2016, we remain a zero-overhead charity, ensuring that 100% of donations go directly to programs that make a real impact.

We are proud to support programs led by Bolivians, who understand their communities’ needs best and make these life-changing initiatives possible. Through our partnerships, we help fund scholarships for survivors of domestic violence, provide education for children in low-income families and orphanages, and assist in building classrooms in remote communities, ensuring that women and children from many communities have access to quality learning opportunities.

At the same time, we support healthcare initiatives that reach poverty-stricken areas, including rural outreach programs, telehealth services, and hospital equipment for underserved populations. With a special focus on infants and mothers, these programs support vulnerable families and provide the resources they need for a healthier future. In Quechua, “yapay” means “give a little more”—and by standing with these local leaders and changemakers, we are helping to create lasting change for generations to come.

Our Partners

Local Bolivian Leaders

Mercedes Cortez
Ciudad de la Bondad & The Justicieras
Mercedes Cortez is the national coordinator of the Voces Libres Foundation. A former child rescued by Voices Libres (VL), she returned back as an adult to lead the fight for justice against domestic violence.

Read more at voceslibresbolivia.org
Sister Romalda
Hospital Bracamontes - Potosi, Bolivia
Sister Romalda serves the Hospital Bracamonte, the hospital serving the poor of Potosi, as a nurse and nun. Ill and impoverished women and children turn to Nurse Romalda, or Romi as she is affectionately called, for help and assistance when they have no one else to turn to.
Cecilia Campero
Pro Mujer
Cecilia Campero is the Country Representative of Pro Mujer Bolivia, leading telemedicine, preventive health, and gender-based violence prevention with a holistic, woman-centered approach. She works to expand access for vulnerable women and communities, believing that true impact comes from integrated care that supports women’s health, safety, and wellbeing.
Ana María Cardozo & Elena Albino Musuq Sunqu
These two have been Yapay's trusted partners at Musuq Sunqu (“New Heart”) since 2018, providing steady leadership and daily care for children from migrant families in Sucre. Both have backgrounds in administration and childhood education. Their warmth and dedication help transform shy, hungry kids into confident students who feel seen and supported.
Maria José Romero Castedo & Germo Viruez Bonilla Hospital Bracamontes - Potosi, Bolivia
Partners with Yapay since 2017, these two leaders have been instrumental in guiding life-saving projects that improve care for infants and mothers. Alongside him, María José—appointed General Manager in summer 2025—brings fresh leadership and a deep commitment to expanding patient access and improving hospital infrastructure.

Our Leadership & Board

Meet the Team Making it Possible

Rachel Young
Executive Director
Rachel McDonald Young joined the Yapay team in April 2017 as their first intern and cherishes working in Bolivia. She first developed a deep love for the Bolivian people and culture as a missionary there from 2015-2016. Rachel has a B.S. in Physiology from BYU and enjoyed working in several medical research labs before having her now two year old daughter.
All Inquires: ryoung@yapaybolivia.org
Sara fisk
President
Sara Bybee Fisk cherishes her eighteen months spent as a missionary for Bolivia and feels a deep attachment to the country. She taught elementary school for four years in Utah and Texas after graduating from BYU. When she's not homeschooling her five children, she volunteers with Lifting Hands International helping to settle and mentor refugee families.
Ariane Dansie
Secretary
Ariane Holtkamp Dansie was a missionary for her church in Bolivia and loves the people and culture of that country. She is a tax attorney and estate planner with the Salt Lake City firm Durham Jones & Pinegar. She works extensively with nonprofit organizations to help them achieve their charitable goals. She hopes to introduce her three young children to Bolivia some day.
Cindy Searle
Vice President
Cindy Champion Searle earned a B.S. in Education from BYU and holds a graduate certificate from the U of U in Teaching English as a Second Language. She is currently teaching in Alpine School District for her 11th year. Cindy lived in Bolivia for a year and a half and has a great love for the people of Bolivia. In addition to her work with Yapay, she volunteered with Days for Girls for several years.
Neil White
Vice President
Neil White first visited Bolivia in 1998 as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has maintained a love for South America and the people of Bolivia since that time. He joined the Yapay board in 2023 as a director. Professionally, Neil is a Partner and the President of HGGC, a private investment business based in Palo Alto, California. Neil and his wife, Carly, live in Menlo Park, California, with their 5 children.
Randi Johansen
Vice President
Randi Johansen's love for Latin America started early when she spent high school summers volunteering in Tijuana, Mexico for the Los Ninos program. She served as a missionary for eighteen months for her church in Bolivia where she developed deep relationships with the people. She also taught English language classes to Spanish-speaking adults in Boston with Catholic Charities.

Our Team

Meet the Team Making it Possible

Kaerlig Hurtado
Program Manager
Kaerlig Andersen Hurtado has loved Bolivia ever since she served a mission there from 1997 to 1998. She is a registered nurse with experience working with women and children. Kaerlig and her husband, David, co-own The Scooter Lounge, a Vespa dealership. She began volunteering with Yapay Bolivia while pursuing a master's degree in public health with an emphasis in global health at BYU. Kaerlig and David live in Provo, Utah, and are the parents of three children.
Joshua Jensen Videographer
Joshua Jensen, multi-dimensional artistic animal hails from northern rural Arizona. His love for cultivating creativity has brought him across the globe from the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal, remote islands in Thailand, and to New York City where he lives now. Joshua has worked to document Yapay's projects across Bolivia since 2018. The greatest of Joshua’s pursuits is to be a good son, brother, and friend.
alexa Moore
Impact Manager
Alexa Moore’s passion for Bolivia began during her missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her interest deepened through years of academic study and research focused on the Andean region. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a master’s degree in Public Administration, and she now works as a global communications professional. Alexa is particularly passionate about measuring impact and evaluating humanitarian projects. In her free time, she enjoys singing professionally and traveling the world with her husband, Max.

Our Volunteers

DJ Belnap

Deven Curtis

Derek Larsen

Jacqui Larsen

Lance Larsen

Katie Hale

Kerri Mills

Rachel Fisk

Ariana Rojas

Aaron McDonald

Bethanie Knighton

Derek Larsen

Danny Rodriguez

Samir Mayhua

Rogelio Figueroa

Nelli Crofts

Megan Petersen

Julia Taylor

Ainsley Taylor

Ashtyn Garrett

Sandra Taylor

Linda Lino 

Amy Keele

Jeremy Keele

Melanie Easthope

Press and Awards

In September, 2017, the Yapay Bolivia Foundation received the Outstanding Neighbor Award at the East Bench Business Association breakfast for its recent donation of $30,000 of new medical equipment to a hospital serving the poor in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Thank you to Yalecrest Homes for giving Yapay Bolivia the opportunity to talk about improving the health and well-being of poverty-stricken Bolivian women and children.

The Daily Universe featured Yapay Bolivia’s wonderful interns.  We’re so proud of the work they do!  The interns are an integral part of Yapay Bolivia and facilitate every aspect of what we do.  We couldn’t do it without them! The Hospital Japones held a press conference in September, 2017, to express gratitude for Yapay Bolivia’s gift of $30,000 worth of new life-saving equipment.  El Deber, one of the leading newspapers in Bolivia, covered the event: El Deber

Y Magazine

In the Spring 2021 issue, Y Magazine featured our four incredible founders—BYU graduates and former missionaries in Cochabamba, Bolivia—and their journey in launching Yapay Bolivia. The article titled “Give A Little More” shares how their love for Bolivia led them to create a this nonprofit to improve healthcare and education for impoverished women and children.

In the Fall 2024 issue, an article titled “Helping the Helpers” highlighted how BYU’s Project Evaluation and Assessment Team (PEAT) partnered with Yapay Bolivia to support nonprofits in Bolivia. Sociology students spent two weeks evaluating seven organizations, helping ensure resources are making the greatest impact. PEAT’s work provided valuable external feedback to Yapay Bolivia, strengthening efforts to support healthcare, education, and women’s empowerment.

Join our
Yapay Family

Priding ourselves on being a zero-overhead charity and since our founding in 2016, 100% of all donations have gone directly to Bolivans who need it the most. 

OUR PROJECTS

 

We empower women and children in Bolivia through healthcare and education initiatives to break the cycle of poverty and strengthen communities.

Protecting At-Risk Children

Providing holistic care for orphaned and vulnerable children—nourishing their bodies, supporting their education, and helping them heal and grow.
Learn More

Expanding Access Healthcare

Improving community health by providing life-saving medical care through hospital support, essential supplies, and programs that bring healthcare to underserved communities.
Learn More

Empowering Survivors with Education

Supporting survivors as they pursue university degrees that not only secure their own futures, but also strengthen Bolivia’s justice and social service systems.
Learn More

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