“Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest person whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to that person. Will that person gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

Marianne Sébastien – founder of Voix Libres

This inspiring advice from the esteemed leader of nonviolence has motivated many in the world to work for a noble cause. The following story traces the birth and growth of an organization led by an exemplary role model who lives by this motto.

“Voix Libres” (Free Voices) is a non-governmental organization based in Geneva. It was founded by Marianne Sébastien, a Swiss classical singer and social worker in 1993 after her stay in Bolivia, where she saw the extreme misery of small children having to work like slaves in the mines of the “Cerro Rico” in Potosi, Bolivia, at 4200 to 5000 meters altitude risking their lives daily.

Marianne Sébastien first rescued 12 children out of the mines. To help these terrified, silent and withdrawn children, she taught them music and to sing out loud (hence the name “free voice”), and also took them to warm-water swimming pools to help liberate them from their fears. After some time, and with much patience, the children remembered how to laugh again.

Albertito – 5 years old mine-worker

Since these early days, her organization has grown tremendously. She also helps the widowed mothers of numerous children (the life expectancy of a miner is 35 years) by teaching them to become independent and giving them micro-credits to start a small business so their children do not have to work in the mines and can go to school. She teaches mistreated women not to accept their condition anymore and to become stronger with the help of their sisters. She has taught them to start small cooperatives, to work together and encourage each other. Many of these women now make beautiful, very colorful handbags, schoolbags, purses, and lovely knitted ponchos and shawls that are also sold in Switzerland and other European countries by Voix Libres.

In the rescue scheme, every micro-credit has to be paid back, so that another family can profit from it. Some of the children from the early years of the scheme who were sent to agricultural school are now leading and teaching farmers in their villages how to be self-sufficient. Some of them are even looking after groups of orphaned mine-children. Marianne also helps other disadvantaged children from garbage dumps or prisons to go to school and ensures they have enough food.

Since 1993 about 400,000 human beings, mainly women and children, have benefited from the help of Voix Libres and become strong and independent. One major project Voix Libres has carried out is to teach poor Bolivian farmers to grow Quinoa, a cereal already known by the Incas, full of protein and minerals and ideal for vegetarians. Marianne provides farmers an income by buying some of their Quinoa and selling it in Europe.

Touched by what Voix Libres has provided to the region of Potosi, the Bolivian government started giving the organization free land to build schools and farms. As many Bolivians were unaware of the situation of their poorest countrymen, with the help of volunteers, Marianne organized visits for university students to the mines. The students were so shocked that they became involved with the “Movement for Human Rights” in Potosi.

Literacy training for disadvantaged women and children

Voix Libres also started a plan of action to prevent and eradicate child labor in the mines of Potosi. This is a joint action between the working teams of Bolivia and Europe.

Marianne Sébastien exemplifies the amazing strength of a woman with great compassion, who has achieved a great deal in a short period of time to improve the lives of others. Following her example, some Swiss and European volunteers have joined her work. The Bolivians whom she helped and is still helping love her dearly. For them she is the person who brought hope and laughter into their lives.

For more information on Voix Libres please visit their web-site: http://www.voixlibres.org
Photos obtained from: http://www.voixlibres.org

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