Beaming faces at WorldSkills America 2025
At the vocational skills competition WorldSkills Americas 2025 in Santiago de Chile, young professional talents from Bolivia achieved remarkable success. They won silver and bronze medals in the fields of technical irrigation systems and construction.
The international vocational skills competition took place from 5 to 8 November 2025. Around 400 young professionals from 12 countries competed in 25 different skills categories. The aim of WorldSkills Americas is to promote the quality of vocational education and training and to make young talents visible at a regional level.
Bolivia’s participation was made possible by the Liechtenstein Development Service in cooperation with the partner organisation FAUTAPO. FAUTAPO has been a member of WorldSkills Americas since 2010 and is the only official Bolivian representative within the network.
Silver medal in technical irrigation
The silver medal in the category of technical irrigation systems was won by Nolberto Palacios Ortega and David Anagua Falón. Both were trained within a training project supported by the Liechtenstein Development Service in cooperation with FAUTAPO. Their training focuses on the planning, installation and maintenance of modern irrigation systems. These skills are of particular importance for agricultural development in Bolivia. This marks the second consecutive time that Bolivia has reached the podium in the field of technical irrigation.
Bronze medal in construction
David Mamani Vela won a bronze medal. He completed his training at a higher technical college supported by the Liechtenstein Development Service. His discipline requires precision, solid technical knowledge and a high level of resilience in a competitive environment.
Impact beyond the competition
Participation in WorldSkills Americas not only strengthens the individual skills of the participants, but also supports the further development of vocational education and training in Bolivia. Engagement in such international competitions promotes alignment with international training standards, facilitates the exchange of experience and contributes to the continuous development of the entire vocational education system.
For the Liechtenstein Development Service, this success represents a visible result of long-term investments in technical vocational education in Bolivia and the trusting cooperation with local partners.
