La Paz traffic zebras facts for kids
The La Paz traffic zebras, known locally as Educadores Urbanos Cebras ("Zebra Urban Educators"), are a special group of young people. They dress up in fun zebra costumes and work to help people cross streets safely and teach everyone about road rules. These "zebras" are young people who get a chance to work for the city government.
This unique program started in La Paz, Bolivia. It has become very popular and has even spread to other cities in Bolivia.
How the Zebra Program Started
The La Paz traffic zebra program began in 2001. At that time, many people were moving from the countryside to cities in Bolivia. This meant more cars and more traffic problems. The city needed a creative way to make streets safer.
A person named Antanas Mockus had started a similar program in Colombia using mimes. He helped design the idea for the traffic zebras. The zebras were chosen because of "zebra crossings" (pedestrian crossings). The idea was that people might listen better to friendly, funny zebras than to regular police officers.
When the program first started, there were only 24 "zebras." Each zebra costume was big enough for two people! They used whistles and flags to direct traffic. Over time, the costumes were changed to fit just one person, making it easier for them to move around. The zebras also started using more humor and encouragement to teach road safety.
What the Zebras Do
The traffic zebra program helps young people who might be facing challenges. These teens and young adults work part-time for the La Paz city government. They get two months of training, are paid, and receive health insurance. The program also offers them classes, mentors, and training to help them get future jobs. There's even a "Zebra for a Day" ("Cebra Por Un Día") program where anyone can try being a traffic zebra!
Zebras encourage safe behavior at crosswalks and traffic lights. Sometimes they do funny things, like pretending to lie on the hood of a car that stops in the crosswalk. They also hand out leaflets and direct traffic. Their job has grown to include teaching about other important topics like recycling, saving water, reducing noise, and stopping bullying. You can see zebras at schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and even on TV shows and at street festivals.
By 2017, the program had helped over 3,000 young people. More than 250 new zebras join each year. Other cities like Tarija, Sucre, and El Alto also have zebra programs, bringing the total number of zebras working to over 400.
Why the Zebras Are Important
The city of La Paz recognized the traffic zebras as an important part of their culture in 2014. UNESCO, a big international organization, also honored them in 2015. In 2016, they won an award for making cities safer and easier to get around.
A children's book called Mateo Y La Cebra Que Buscaba Un Paso de Peatones ("Mateo and the Zebra who was Looking for a Crosswalk") was published in 2018. The zebras themselves have performed a play based on this story. There's also a national TV show called "The Z" about a young man who works as a traffic zebra.
In 2017, John Oliver talked about the traffic zebras on his TV show, Last Week Tonight. He showed how they help with traffic in La Paz. The mayor of La Paz, Luis Revilla, even invited John Oliver to visit and be a "Zebra for a Day." In 2020, John Oliver released a sheet of stamps with the zebras on them, along with other popular characters from his show.
See also
In Spanish: Cebras (La Paz) para niños
- Crossing guard
- Zebra crossing
