The Venezuela program will explore the rise of social change movements and human rights activism in present-day Venezuela, both on the grassroots level and as represented by national government programs. A major theme of the program will be to examine the relationship of grassroots human rights organizations with a national government expressly concerned with promoting respect for human rights, democratic reform, and the redistribution of wealth. Spanish proficiency is required.

Since Venezuela emerged as a major oil exporter in the early 20th century, the country has enjoyed periods of both relative prosperity as well as economic depression.  However, the poor have historically been consistently excluded from reaping the benefits of this tremendous oil wealth.  Although a democratic form of government has been in place for the past fifty years in Venezuela, the political system has, until recently, been dominated by two parties, both of which failed to address the growing social unrest resulting from the unequal distribution of the nation’s wealth. In 1989, when the streets of Caracas exploded in popular protest against the austerity reforms of President Carlos Andres Pérez, the unrest was met with extreme government repression, ultimately leaving an estimated 2,000 people dead in what became known as the “caracazo.”

Today, Venezuela is seeking to overcome this history of exclusion and repression.  The Chávez administration has vowed to work towards strengthening democratic structures, ending corruption, and alleviating poverty.  Meanwhile, grassroots activists are organizing to strengthen grassroots political participation and working to improve the conditions of Venezuela’s most marginalized groups.  On a local level, communities are working to provide access to education and health services, while nationally Venezuela is working toward greater economic self-sufficiency in the areas of food production and consumer goods.  On a regional level, Venezuela has emerged as a leader in advocating for the economic and political sovereignty of Latin America—a role which has earned Chávez the disfavor of the United States government, which he has accused of supporting an opposition-led coup attempt in 2002.

Venezuela still has a long way to go toward fully realizing its “Bolivarian revolution,” as this transformational process has been dubbed.  While poverty alleviation programs (know as “missions”) have succeeded in providing greater access to medical care, literacy education, and sponsorship of local economic development projects,  much remains for poor communities to have all their basic needs met.  Corruption on the local and national level remains rampant and continues to impede efforts to effectively implement social service and land reform programs.  Women continue to suffer from discrimination and violence.  Meanwhile, the largely middle-class and elite opposition to Chávez continue to denounce limited press freedom under his administration and a highly politicized judiciary.  There are also reports of widespread abuses by security forces and police, and of the inhumane conditions within Venezuela’s prisons.

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Participants will spend time in the Venezuela’s capital city of Caracas, whose outlying slums have been the focal point of many government sponsored missions and a hotbed of grassroots organizing.  The delegation will also visit the Andean region of Mérida, as well as rural communities, so as to explore the range of issues currently facing Venezuelans working to defend and promote human rights.  Participants will meet with leading human rights defenders, local community leaders, and youth engaged in critical efforts to promote respect for the political, economic, social, and cultural rights of all Venezuelans.

During these site visits, participants will have the opportunity to discuss the historical roots of the Bolivarian revolution, as well as the progress and challenges of this profound transformational process.  Delegation activities will include a high level of interaction with Venezuelan youth, as well as participation in cultural events.  An interactive human rights workshop will bring U.S. participants together with their Venezuelan peers to build common frameworks of understanding, analyze shared human rights concerns, build new skills to promote and protect human rights, and share ideas for collaborative projects.

Workshop topics may include: perspectives of human rights in Venezuela and the U.S., creating a shared definition of “human rights,” a case study analysis of international human rights standards, human rights documentation and monitoring, educational strategies to promote human rights, and critical leadership and action skills.

As a group, we will consider the ways in which young people in the U.S. can help raise awareness and support young Venezuelans working to create change in their country.  Through hands-on volunteer fieldwork activities, participants will work side-by-side with Venezuelans to find ways in which we can share our talents, experience, and knowledge to help support existing efforts to strengthen a culture of respect for human rights.  As a fieldwork project, delegation members will develop a documentation project to record the stories, challenges and success of Venezuelans who are making a positive impact.

Important Reminder:  Sessions will be conducted in Spanish, so a minimum Spanish language proficiency at an intermediate level is a requirement for participation. Translation and interpretation will not be provided.