Child sponsorship update from La Canada, Venezeula

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village La Canada, Venezeula from Winter 2008.

Dear sponsors:

Now that the most beautiful epoch of the year is just around the corner, receive our more cordial and brotherly greeting in company of all your dear ones. We would also like to give you our deep gratefulness for continuing supporting our work. Once 2008 comes to a close, I am proud of letting you know about the following achievements and news:

Three families in the village received 8 children, who came with their anxiously sweet little faces and with lots of questions to their new siblings. In whole the village is home to 54 boys and 60 girls for a total of 114 children and youths living in a familiar nucleus at the SOS Children’s Village in La Cañada. This year, an important achievement was obtained to continue reinforcing the work of participation and child protection that the organisation promotes. SOS Children Venezuela signed an agreement with UNICEF to plan workshops, seminars and family days in Child Participation. Experts and facilitators in the topic will support children and teenagers of this program in the way for their development, autonomy and future independence.

We were all filled with pride when the end of school year came. 98 % of children in basic education approved the academic year 2007-2008 with a GPA in the scale "A" and "B" that is equivalent to a superior average of 16 out 20 points. At an extracurricular level, children who take part of the Child Symphonic Orchestra of the Zulia State continue with their classes and they performed in front of a selected audience in a pleasant Christmas concert.

Several activities were organized with the occasion of the worldwide commemoration of 59 years of SOS Children and 29 years in Venezuela. Neighbors, nearby community, local school among others; took part in a city walk around several streets and avenues in La Cañada. Proud and committed collaborators celebrated in the streets as they recited to the unison: “today it is our anniversary "! And which best reward than to share our happiness with the people who has seen us grow during these 29 years in La Cañada and in Venezuela. Also to continue with the celebration, we organized a workshop of “Conformation of Social Networks" in join with a local institution. Such activities emphasize that working with children and youths is not a task of one but of a team of people. It also shows that goals and results are achieved in union and cooperation.

Growing up at La Canada, Venezeula

Before I end telling you about the celebrations in the village, I would like to share the experience of organizing the “Peace Games”. This activity was equally enjoyed by the neighbors of La Cañada and included different sport events such as: a triathlon, football game with the local team and certainly, traditional Venezuelan games could not be forgotten. To close this entertaining event, social and community mothers took part in a dance contest. Also young ladies from the village prepared an exhibition of folkloric dances with colored suits and pretty choreographies.

The fruitful labor realised in the village is a result of working in teams. When 2008 comes to an end, we can proudly report that we count with the valuable commitment of 8 SOS mothers and 5 support aunts. They take care of children and youths in 13 family houses. At the end of the summer, we celebrated mom's Ana Mery retirement. She not only dedicated 18 years of her life to the care of her children but now she will continue the upbringing of her 5 youngest ones. An emotive celebration was organised in union of mothers, collaborators of the village and certainly children, to say our last goodbye to Ana Mery. Among laughter and weeping she told us: “It was a very touchy reception for me. I shared with some of my children and my friends from the village. When I first came to this organisation I thought I would stay for six months, until one of my biological children graduated. As soon as my son finished his studies, I felt a bit more relieved and decided to take part of this beautiful deed. My family insisted that I should go back home but I did not want to. Now that I leave the village I will continue helping my children and those who weren’t as well; since for me they all are very special and they need me very much ".

Another pre-school training course was dictated as part of the alliance between SOS Children’s Village La Cañada and a local centre of vocational training. 19 women of the community and 2 young ladies from the village graduated in this occasion. Of the whole of 21 women, 3 of them are already collaborating as community mothers in the community centre of this locality.

Eight young men, who live in the male youth community, recently moved to one of the houses available inside the village. By mid year they were victims of a theft in the zone where they were living but the experience taught them to defend for themselves and look for new alternatives. For next year, they will look for a new housing option and continue with their project of life independent from the organisation. Likewise the young men, who live more independently, continue with their regular activities and with their university studies. Until now, 33 youngsters are seizing the economic support that the organisation can give them to cover their study and housing expenses. Equally, the organisation is happy to aid youngsters who may need economic support in any unforeseen situation.

Projects to support children at La Canada, Venezeula

And good news also arrived to Family Strengthening and Community Development Programmes. As part of the alliance with UNICEF 20 children and youths from the SOS School, received training in rights and duties promotion, seminars on child and youth participation and community involvement. Likewise, 3 youngsters participated in the third meeting of Child Protection. This was celebrated in the SOS training centre, in “El Junquito” population near Caracas, in cooperation with other organizations engaged with childhood topics in our country. The SOS school initiated the school year 2008-2009 with a matriculation of 900 children and youths. Community work with school neighbors in La Cañada allowed the construction of a new educational project, which construction materials were donated by a mining local company and the community gave an economic contribution for the workforce and the materials. Another important event was the end of a social project called “School for the Family”. 300 participants from local community had the chance to reinforce in this program, their family, home and couple values among other topics.

A census for women in the community was made and 20 mothers registered in various courses such as pre-school and hairdressing. These were dictated in the Community Centre in La Cañada. Similarly, the “Integral Community Educational Project” whose motto is “constructing an environment of harmony among all" was conducted to reinforce community engagement and neighbors' participation. Said project seeks to lessen the levels of violence among pupils and therefore within their families.

Family Strengthening collaborators also took part in training activities during 2008. 14 members of the SOS school participated in the fifth meeting of Family Strengthening Programmes celebrated in our training centre. 2 collaborators were prepared in advanced human rights for children and adolescents. 90 % of the collaborators had their training in the new strategic planning methodology that SOS is adopting worldwide. The same percentage took part in the restructuring of the living together manual after the reforms within the law for children and youths in Venezuela.

Regarding the SOS Community Centre, in the last quarter of the year, Montessori philosophy was applied in its classrooms. With this advancement, autonomy, companionship and other cognitive skills were put in place within the educational programmes. In the health area, some controls were facilitated: parasites, vaccination, control of healthy child (both in the community centres and homes) assisting a whole approximate of 500 boys and girls. Likewise, 7 qualified community mothers were trained in pre-school courses, which besides giving them a new skill it also allows them enter the job world.

People in La Cañada have favorably benefited from trainings and new opportunities that the organisation offers them in alliance with other local institutions. 15 community service assistants give educational aid in several community homes within a needed area from the locality. A technological institute in join with a foundation gives care and support to 300 boys and girls who are registered in community homes in a rural zone in La Cañada. Likewise, the local community through Family Strengthening Programmes, has had the opportunity to improve its living conditions with options such as a credit plan to build houses (7 community mothers); to optimize the educational level through scholarships (22 community mothers) and to gain a new skill, like cooking or sewing.

On behalf of the board of directors, the national direction, the personnel of the village and, very specially, on behalf of all the mothers, aunts, children and youths, we are grateful for your generous support and wish you and your loved ones a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a NEW YEAR full of happy moments, peace, successes and blessings.

Most cordially

Janeth Marín
Director, SOS Children´s Village La Cañada