Education

Many students in the scholarship program walk more than an hour to reach the road, crossing the river several times along the way.

Our libraries serve students who cannot afford text or reference books, and have no one at home who can help them with their studies.

Iliana Ortiz (right), our education coordinator, meets with Chabela Rengel, who manages our main Centro Escolar, at Chabela’s house.

Franklin Rodriguez, upper right, was a student in our tutoring program, and now teaches at the valley public school, which serves about 60 campesino families.

The Foundation believes education is the key to Venezuela’s future as a thriving democracy. As early as 1979, we began tutoring adults and children in our valley in basic skills and literacy.

Today, we support the development of educational programs in both rural and low-income urban areas.

Our activities include:

Rural Scholarship Program: Many students who live in the remote valleys of our region must hike long distances to the road and then wait for local transportation to the nearest public high school. The Foundation sponsors up to 30 such low-income students who are striving to continue their studies. These “becarios” (sponsored students) receive support for transportation, school uniforms and shoes, books, supplies, and tutoring.
Rural Libraries: The Foundation opened its first library in 2004 with the help of the regional state university. The library is now located in our Casa Barrancas Community Center, and is staffed by a state-supported librarian. We have also opened a small remote library branch upriver in the valley two hours from the road.
Subsidized School Supplies: Valley students can obtain school supplies, transportation tickets, shoes, and uniforms at half the market price through Foundation-subsidized "Centros Escolares." Local mothers operate these small outlets out of their homes, and receive a small percentage of the sales.
Valley Elementary School: When the valley school was closed due to a shortage of teachers, the Foundation stepped in with interim staffing and administrative support, and organized the community to find a long-term solution to this crisis. We now offer school supplies as well as workshops and opportunities for academic improvement to valley based teachers. We recently helped to build the new school cafeteria, and successfully re-activated the school lunch program.
Digital Divide: Our computer literacy program for rural high school and adult education students offers vital computer access to low-income Venezuelans. Community activists also use our computers to create proposals seeking local government and institutional support.
Kindergarten: In 2001, we established the first rural kindergarten in the Barrancas-Tigre area with the support of the German Embassy, which donated funds for the construction. The kindergarten is now staffed by a Ministry of Education teacher and serves more than 40 children. The Foundation continues to provide supplementary staff and material support.