Bridging the education gap in Venezuela

As the academic year draws to a close, we are delighted to share some incredible results from our education programmes. 

In the Queremos Graduarnos programme, a total of 45 students sponsored by Chamos have completed their extracurricular academic requirements for the year. Seven have successfully completed their high school education completely, and are embarking on the next chapter of their lives as graduates. We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements! 

Thanks to Chamos’ contribution, a total of 7,695 breakfasts have been delivered to the Niño Jesus de Praga school this year. As substantial research and evidence-based programmes have shown, a well nourished student is more likely to excel in their studies as proper nutrition positively influences cognitive development, energy levels, attendance and long-term educational success. In our work at the school, we now see that the average attendance rate of children is over 90 percent, which when compared to the national average of 65 percent, serves as a robust indicator of our success in fostering a supportive learning environment. We expect to see this excellent result reflected in the academic performance of upcoming final exams this month. 

Our coding programme has directly benefited 20 students who will be graduating with a certificate in basic coding this month. Additionally, our newly equipped computer lab has been a tremendous asset to the school, benefitting over 500 students. With regular access to computers, students have been able to take full advantage of online learning resources and enhance both their digital literacy skills and education overall. 

Through our support of the programme Leo, Juego y Aprendo which centers around a phonetic approach, we have brought immense benefits to 23,353 children in first and second grade. Furthermore, it has positively impacted 1,110 teachers teaching these grades, and reached a total of 311 schools spanning across 19 states in Venezuela. The widespread implementation and success of the programme signify its far-reaching impact on improving literacy and education outcomes for both students and educators alike.

Outside of the classroom, we have supported the implementation of education services for 314 children in 24 after-school centers across the country aiming to address the significant impact that strict lockdowns during the pandemic years had on children's literacy and numeracy skills.

We couldn’t do any of this without you! 
Admist the challenges that lay before us, we want to thank you for being the beacon of hope for Chamos, our partners and the children we exist to serve. We deeply appreciate your unwavering commitment, and we look forward to counting on your support for the upcoming school year. Together, we can continue making a profound and positive impact, illuminating the path to a brighter future for the CHAMOS of Venezuela!

Gracias!

During the last decade, the education system in Venezuela has been severely compromised as a result of the complex humanitarian crisis and two years of strict lockdown during the pandemic. Schools have a dire lack of infrastructure, and rampant inflation has affected incomes, limiting resources and resulting in increased desertion rates from teachers and students. It is estimated that between 2021 and 2022 almost 200.000 students left the education system, and between 2018 and 2021, 25% of primary and secondary teachers left their jobs, leaving thousands of children without qualified or experienced teachers.

In December last year, we launched our Giving Tuesday campaign, with the aim of raising funds to bridge the education gap in Venezuela by improving attendance, attainment and aspirations. The support for the campaign was incredible, and we raised over $46,000 from over 200 donations. This amazing generosity has enabled us to provide resources, infrastructure and training across the country - here’s what we’ve been able to achieve so far…

• We continued to train teachers and provide innovative teaching materials through our support of large-scale multi-partner programme ‘Leo Juego y Aprendo’. This program focuses on changing the methodology of teaching students to read, taking a tried-and-tested phonetic approach. Our support of this programme had directly benefited 61 schools in 5 different states of Venezuela -  providing teachers with the resources and support they need to give students the quality education they deserve.
  
  
• We supplied 400 daily meals to 380 children and 20 teachers in a school in La Vega - a poor area of Caracas. The nutritionally balanced meals act as incentives for attendance (for both teachers and students), as well as improving concentration, energy levels and academic performance. 

• We supported a programme to enable 40 high school students to learn the principles of coding and programming, in a brand-new computer room funded by Chamos. The course, which students attend on a weekly basis, not only provides students with employable skills, but also encourages aspirations, making opportunities available that students hadn’t even considered before. 
  

• We provided scholarships for five young adults with disabilities (ranging from Down syndrome to aspergers) to attend a year-long capacity-building programme to facilitate progression to employment. Through the programme, students learn practical skills for the workplace (such as Microsoft Office), as well as social skills (like teamwork, conflict resolution and effective communication) - all with the aim of preparing them for the workplace.

• We sponsored 40 young people through a programme to reduce school dropout rates, through provision of school fees, mentorship, workshops, inspirational talks and extracurricular support.

• We provided scholarships to three students in their final year of their engineering undergraduate degree. We have supported these students since the beginning of their studies, and it gives us great pride that they are now so close to graduating! 

We couldn’t be more grateful for your support, which is helping us to give the gift of education to children and young people across Venezuela.