The World Fellows

La Paz City Councilwoman Cecilia Barja-Chamas helped found Bolivia’s Movimiento Sin Miedo (MSM) or Movement Without Fear, a new political party devoted to eliminating corruption and addressing the pressing problem of poverty in Bolivia. Her passionate and eloquent advocacy on behalf of the urban poor in Bolivia has propelled her political career. In 2000, she became the youngest person ever elected to the La Paz City Council. As councilwoman, she served as president of the Commission for Political Development, secretary of the Commission for Institutional Development, leader of the Ethics Commission, and acting mayor. She has also campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the city’s impoverished youth, organizing scholarships and work programs and overseeing the formation of a Municipal Youth Council. Since 2003, Barja-Chamas has also served as national executive secretary for the MSM Party. In rallies and meetings across Bolivia, she speaks forcefully about the need to return power to the local level in Bolivia and, in so doing, give birth to a new generation of honest and forward-looking politicians.

Post-Fellowship:

Upon her return to Bolivia, Barja-Chamas took over as Chief Executive of Human Development for the city of La Paz; her portfolio included health, education, human rights, and sports. Her initiatives included renovations for 60% of the public educational infrastructure in La Paz; the fortification of the city’s health network; and the creation of several organizations to protect children, the homeless, and victims of abuse. In early 2007, she participated in the Global Competitiveness Leadership Program at Georgetown University. Currently, she is a Master’s Degree candidate in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.