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About us

Lamentations 2:19

 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

Open since June 10 2022

By God's Grace we have been open to receive children since June 10 2022

Our mission statement

We aim to serve the children of Cobija, Bolivia showing God's love and care to His precious little ones, in as much as we are able.

Shalom History

Beginnings

José and April Melgar were called by God circa 2006 to start a Children's Home for the needy children of Cobija

Opening 

In 2022 we built the park and welcomed the first 2 girls into Hogar Shalom 

Now 

Now in 2026 we are so thankful to have 16 Shalom children with us and parents for both the boy and girl homes. We pray for the salvation of all the children, strength for the parents of the homes, and that God heals the emotional and physical wounds of all the children. 

Legal Processes 

Legal processes to begin the Children's Home took many years, but finally in 2018 the first house was built. 

Meet our dedicated team

Dedicated people driving our mission

April and Jose Melgar

April and José Melgar 

Founders and Presidents of NGO Shalom

April and José Melgar were called in 2005 to go to Cobija, Pando, Bolivia to start a children's home. 

Pedro and Eliana Arteaga

Parents of the girl's house

In 2025 they came to Shalom with the desire to become parents at shalom, May of 2025 they became the parents of the girls. 

Roberto and Esdenka Suarez 

Parents of the boy's house

In 2025 they felt called to become parents at Shalom and in Octobre of 2025 became the parents of the boys. Previously they worked in their church with children and youth.

Rosario Rivero Bogado

Shalom cook

Rosario is the cook for both houses at Shalom.