BOLIVIA: Does God Speak Through Signs?

Home to 36 ethnic groups and 39 official languages, Bolivia is a diverse and dynamic country full of colourful traditions, languages, and customs.

Sadly, one people group and one language are consistently overlooked — the Deaf community and their growing dialect of Bolivian Sign Language (LSB – Lengua de Señas Boliviana). Because of this, Bolivian Deaf individuals face challenges in accessing the Spiritual nourishment they desperately seek.

Sign language plays a crucial role in fostering understanding and acceptance, and it is imperative Deaf voices in Bolivia are heard, understood, and embraced.

The need for Bibles and spiritual resources in LSB is a matter of dignity, respect and inclusivity so the Deaf may experience for themselves the love of Christ revealed in His Word.

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116K

Representing 1% of the population, Deaf people in Bolivia rely on sign language as their primary communication method.

1.6%

Only 1.6% of LSB speakers have been incorporated into educational or work settings. Most live far below the poverty line.

90%

Of those in this people group, 90% self-identify as Christian.

Hope for Bolivia

Hope for Bolivia is an extraordinary program to bring the Word of God in sign language to over 5,000 deaf Bolivians which will foster a deeper connection with their faith.
There is great need for a uniformed sign language in Bolivia. Although LSB is the most widely used, only 25% of Deaf Bolivians speak it fluently.
Although most Deaf individuals in Boliva identify as Christian, they are considered an “Engaged yet Unreached” people group due to the lack of resources and teaching available to them.

“Deaf people need to know Jesus, but how can we know Jesus without having access to His Word in our mother tongue?” — Alberto, participant in the Bolivian Sign Language Bible pilot project.

Hope for Bolivia is unlocking and empowering Bolivia’s Deaf with the Word of God in sign language. Your generosity today will allow these “Engaged yet Unreached’ people experience for themselves the love of Christ through His Word.