[A-List] Fw: Summer delegation to Venezuela

[Nicaragua Solidarity and Fair Trade Resource]

From: Lisa Sullivan 
Subject: Summer delegation to Venezuela

Dear Tom, Greetings from Venezuela! My name is Lisa Sullivan, a friend of Chuck Kaufmans's and a former Maryknoll lay missioner who has been here in Barquisimeto for most of the past 20 years. I hope that you are both well! 

I saw that you are a contact for the trip/delegation section of the VSN. I was wondering if you might be able to get out the information about the delegation on that site. I am enclosing the flyer, which is just a brief overview, also a more detailed write up (see below) and the application form. 

Thanks for all you do to spread the good news of what is happening down here in Venezuela. Best to you both! Abrazos, Lisa

Overview of Delegation
This delegation is being offered primarily to college students (undergraduate and graduate) who would like to have the opportunity this summer to experience the Bolivarian revolution first hand. Some spots will also be available to those who are no longer in college, but who are eternal students of life! 



The dramatic changes taking place in Venezuela have captured the world's attention. The self proclaimed "Socialism of the 21st Century' is aimed at redirecting the country's oil wealth to its citizens. Radical health, education, economic and agricultural reforms have brought both enthusiastic praise and vociferous criticism. 



This delegation will allow students a closer look by visiting three different areas: Caracas, Barquisimeto and Sanare.   The group will meet with government and opposition leaders, and visit urban and rural communities to experience the many social programs. They will also visit new cooperatives, community television and radio stations, dance to the vibrant rhythms of Afro- Venezuelan drums, and help out at a coffee farm. Several days will be spent with a home stay in a rural community of the state of Lara. During this time students will be able to choose a hands-on experience in health, cooperatives, education or music. 



Delegation Sponsor

This delegation is being organized by the Centro Cultural San Juan (CCSJ), a community center located in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.  This center, founded in 1992 by Maryknoll lay missioners and community youth from Barrio Jose Felix Ribas, offers many programs to children and youth from the surrounding barrios. A student-run library has allowed many children to remain in school.   An extensive cultural program offers free classes in traditional Venezuelan drumming, dance and cuatro.  Out of this experience, a large cultural movement has formed, involving hundreds of young people from the western barrios of Barquisimeto who celebrate and affirm their traditions and identity through this vibrant music. 



After the coup attempt of 2002 many social justice organizations around the world began to take a closer look at Venezuela and the changes taking place in the country. The vitality of the Centro Cultural San Juan drew many visitors, and soon several of the volunteer staff began to help lead and later organize delegations to Venezuela, recognizing this as a contribution to the positive changes taking place in Venezuela.  



Trip leaders

This delegation will be organized by Lisa Sullivan and Ledys Navas, two of the founders and co-coordinators of the center. They have each helped to lead over a dozen delegations to Venezuela for organizations such as Global Exchange, Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas, National Lawyers Guild, Center for International Policy, G.A.T.E., Dickinson College, and others.



Lisa and Ledys will be joined by Lisa's daughter Maia in leading this delegation. Maia is a second-year student at Earlham College. She grew up in the barrios of Barquisimeto, participating from a very young age in the Centro Cultural San Juan and later teaching drumming, dancing and participating as a facilitator in the summer program for children.   Maia moved to the U.S. for her senior year in high school, and now studies psychology at Earlham and is a passionate dancer and activist for social justice. She is looking forward to sharing the hope that her country is offering to Latin America as it experiments with new models of education, health, culture, production, agriculture, citizen participation and so much more. 



Funds

The cost of the delegation is $1,200. This includes hotels, all meals, in-country transportation, translation, reading materials, honoraria for host communities, speakers and organizations. 



Some half-scholarships will be offered to Earlham students. Depending on the number of participants, some partial scholarships may be available to other students. 



All remaining funds from the delegation will go to the Centro Cultural San Juan. This center offers on a completely volunteer staff and depends on donations for its operations. 



Schedule

The group will spend 3 days in Caracas, then travel 5 hours by bus to the state of Lara where they will spend 2 days in the capital, Barquisimeto and then 4 days in the beautiful Andean town of Sanare. The night before their return travel the group will spend an evening in Macuto on the Venezuelan coast. 



In Caracas the delegation will meet with government and opposition leaders, visit hillside barrios to experience the innovative government social programs called "missions" which abound throughout the country. They will also visit sites which are of special importance to Venezuela's past and present and journey by cable car to the top of the Avila mountain for a birds-eye view of Caracas and the surrounding tropical cloud forest.   In Barquisimeto the group will visit alternative radio and t.v. stations, organoponic gardens, education programs and experience the vibrant Afro-Venezuelan rhythms of Centro Cultural San Juan. In Sanare, the group will visit an organic farm, a variety of cooperatives, student activist groups, the Barrio-Adentro health program, a coffee farm, and have the opportunity for a home stay and 2 days of hands-on experience in an area of interest. There is some flexibility in the schedule and additional activities may be planned in accordance with interests of the group. 



Housing

In Caracas the delegation will stay at the Hotel Avila, in Barquisimeto at the Gran Hotel Barquisimeto and in Sanare at the Posada El Cerrito. The final night will be spent at Hotel Santiago in Macuto.    Students will have a roommate of their choice. The cost of all the hotel stays is covered by the delegation fee.



Meals

The delegation fee also includes all meals.  Students will be sent a form to indicate any special food needs. 



Transportation

All in-country transportation will be covered by the delegation fee. The delegation will have use of its own bus in Caracas and Barquisimeto and travel in Sanare will be mostly by jeep. 



Students are responsible for international travel to and from Venezuela. They should plan on arriving by the evening of August 1st, and leave any time on August 11 th.  Transportation to and from the airport will be provided



What to bring

We will be sending a thorough list of recommended items to bring and not bring to Venezuela, and also indication for changing money. Students will only need funds for extra expenses such as gifts, or any activities outside the schedule. 



We hope that this overview is helpful!  We look forward to hopefully meeting you here in Venezuela, and sharing the spirit of hope that is alive and well and growing here. Hasta pronto y abrazos, Lisa, Maia, Ledys 







  




















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