Country Director Spotlight: Willy Mendoza

The Local Leadership of CHOICE's Country Directors

For 40 years, CHOICE Humanitarian has helped rural communities build a path out of poverty by unlocking choice, opportunity, and potential. An essential aspect in the collaboration between CHOICE and the communities we work with is our Country Directors. Country Directors build  local teams who work together with rural communities to identify and address devastating poverty that exists within their country. To make a sustainable impact, Country Directors develop programs that specifically support underserved areas within their home countries that offer solutions and provide resources and opportunities.

Meet CHOICE’s Country Director in Bolivia, Willy Mendoza

Willy Mendoza was born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, and has been the Country Director for CHOICE Humanitarian in Bolivia since 1999. As the longest-tenured Country Director, Willy received valuable mentorship early on in his leadership by CHOICE co-founders James B. Mayfield, Ph.D., and Tim Evans, DDS. Additionally, Willy also had the example of his father to inspire him. His father was a leader of 64 villages in the province of Ingavi, and he was a teacher in the communities as well. From this, Willy learned early in life to respect, honor, and appreciate the leadership and culture of an Altiplano community.

This worldview instilled a deep respect in Willy for the traditional way of the Aymara indigenous nation. This led Willy to do extensive work as a professional translator between Spanish and Aymara, and along with serving Aymara communities as part of CHOICE’s mission, he continues to volunteer his time facilitating communication between the speakers of both languages. Willy works tirelessly to support self-sufficiency within the indigenous Aymara communities.

Willy has a professional background as a dentist, and he holds both a bachelor’s degree in village development and a master's degree in water projects from NUR University. He works with his country team on water systems, the environment, health, education, and cultural appreciation of the Altiplano region of Bolivia. He is married to Maxima Mendoza, who is the Director of Programs on the Bolivia team for CHOICE, and he has three daughters.

A Meaningful Beginning to Working at CHOICE

Willy’s favorite part about working for CHOICE is being able to relate to people from different communities and connect over their beliefs, interests, and more. “I love being able to talk to them and being able to influence their lives,” shared Willy.

He went on to explain CHOICE’s impact on Bolivian communities: “I feel like a little bird carrying water in its mouth to put out a forest fire. We are very small, but our work is effective and done with a lot of commitment. When we talk to our team, I explain to them that they should look at the people we serve with a lot of love—as if they were themselves. This has greatly transformed the way we work in the communities. It’s more than the project; people come together more, and they become friends with each other.”

Willy added, “We understand that if we have united communities, the people themselves will be managers of their destiny. We must create an environment of understanding where everyone is heard.”

The Fulfillment Willy Feels by Making a Difference

Willy’s favorite part about working for CHOICE is being able to relate to people from different communities and connect over their beliefs, interests, and more. “I love being able to talk to them and being able to influence their lives,” shared Willy.

He went on to explain CHOICE’s impact on Bolivian communities: “I feel like a little bird carrying water in its mouth to put out a forest fire. We are very small, but our work is effective and done with a lot of commitment. When we talk to our team, I explain to them that they should look at the people we serve with a lot of love—as if they were themselves. This has greatly transformed the way we work in the communities. It’s more than the project; people come together more, and they become friends with each other.”

Willy added, “We understand that if we have united communities, the people themselves will be managers of their destiny. We must create an environment of understanding where everyone is heard.”

A Memorable Gift of Appreciation

When asked what his favorite experience has been during his time serving with CHOICE, Willy expressed that it’s difficult to pick just one. However, he reflected on this beautiful experience:

“At the end of any community project, I always receive gifts—many of them bought, but delivered with so much love. On one occasion, I received something very special during a project dedication ceremony. The community leader was an old man who had on his handmade authority clothes that his wife had made for him (which takes a lot of time and work). During the ceremony, the community leader proceeded to take off his clothes.”

Willy went on: “With tears in his eyes, the community leader told me that he never thought he’d be able to finish the water system. Now, he and his entire community had water in their house.”

The community leader expressed his gratitude, and he explained how he would have liked to have bought a present, but instead he gave Willy the most valuable thing for him: his handmade command clothes as an authority.

Willy explained, “This is one of my most precious experiences. The community thanked me for the work done, which I treasure in my heart.”

How Willy’s Leadership has influenced his Community

CHOICE Humanitarian’s mission would not be possible without the dedication, passion, and hard work of our Country Directors like Willy Mendoza. Under Willy’s leadership, rural communities in Bolivia have access to youth entrepreneurial programs, greenhouse construction projects, and domestic violence prevention and education.

“I have learned to listen to people, and have empathy,” stated Willy. “This makes me more humble, and from there is born my desire to serve people. I received the instruction from my mentor and friend, Tim Evans, to be a Servant Leader. I have applied this in my life, and it makes me happy to be useful in relieving human pain.”