Tag: Venezuela

The reality of Venezuelan refugees and forced to migrate requires the commitment of the international community

Posted on by Nate Radomski

Organizations of the Society of Jesus and the Red Clamor provide 20 recommendations to the international community to address the reality of Venezuelan refugees and forced to migrate

On June 17, 2021, the II International Conference of Donors in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants will be held in Canada, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Several organizations of the Society of Jesus and the Clamor Network have addressed representatives of the States and delegates to this Conference to remember that 5.6 million Venezuelans have been forced to leave their country. As organizations that accompany, defend and promote the rights of Venezuelan refugees and forced to migrate, we ask to reinforce the commitment of the international community and insist on a democratic and peaceful solution to the crisis in Venezuela, since while it persists, migration will continue to be for many the only way to safeguard life.

Faced with the worsening and precariousness of migration and the closure and militarization of borders, we call for a greater effort and political commitment on the part of all States when it comes to providing humanitarian assistance and protecting the human rights of all Venezuelans forced to migrate, including the right to apply for asylum. We urge states to adopt the UNHCR recommendation and recognize that the Venezuelan population is in need of international protection.

It is pertinent to insist on solidarity and hospitality as principles that allow us to recognize and enhance the positive aspects of migration and take advantage of its benefits. This Conference is an opportunity to commit the necessary resources to achieve international goals and commitments, as well as to provide a coordinated response between States and international organizations.

By clicking here, you can find the recommendations presented by the signatory organizations.

Alboan
Canadian Jesuits International
Entreculturas
Federación Internacional Fe y Alegría
GIAN Migraciones
Jesuit Refugee Service
Magis Americas
Red CLAMOR
Red Jesuita con Migrantes

A year after the launch of “La Escuela en la Radio”

Posted on by Nate Radomski

It has been almost a year since the Fe y Alegría Movement in Venezuela implemented a new strategy for the continued support of distance education of Preschool and Primary students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the course of the past 12 months, Fe y Alegría has been able to accompany children, who, for the most part, do not have access to the necessary technological platforms for distance learning such as, PCs, laptops, tablets, telephones, connection to the internet, TV, etc.

This has been possible due to the joint effort and collaboration between the Schools Program and Fe y Alegría Radio, who came together to guarantee the continuity, permanence, and education of Venezuela’s most vulnerable students. Teaching and learning strategies through radio formats, allow educators to deliver content in a fun and interactive way that contributes to the development of student’s fundamental skills, such as; language and communication, logical-mathematical processes, and values.

Maura Montes, the mother of two girls in second and third grade at the Fe y Alegría Jesús Soto School in Ciudad Guayana, says that as a result of the radio education initiative implemented by Fe y Alegría to accompany children and parents in the middle of quarantine, family coexistence at home has been strengthened.

“It has been beneficial in the sense of family coexistence. It has helped us adapt and get involved in the education of children,” she said.

In times like this, in which parents have had to be teachers at home, and the uncertainty of a pandemic reigns outside, another great challenge of distance education is to ensure emotional well-being. Fe y Alegría has also focused on providing families with tools for coexisting and healthy handling of emotions in the midst of confinement.

During the first quarter of the 2020-2021 school year, Fe y Alegría radio coverage increased to reach more beneficiaries through the launch of 12 micro-programs and the broadcast of 90 programs. During the development of these, 117 boys and 122 girls participated, along with 239 adults, mostly women. An estimated audience of 8,454,515 people was reached.

La Escuela en la Radio is broadcasted by Radio Fe y Alegría stations from Monday to Friday from 9 to 10 in the morning and is broadcast from 3 to 4 in the afternoon.

Batteries for Education, Fe y Alegría Venezuela

Posted on by Nate Radomski

Today, in a context where the impacts of a global pandemic are being felt in communities on various levels all around the world, teachers play an essential role in overcoming adversities and building brighter futures. Their work and commitment to guaranteeing quality education is key in driving us out of crisis.

The Fe y Alegría movement was born in Venezuela 65 years ago to give educational opportunities to all. This popular education movement goes beyond barriers, where the asphalt and electricity cannot reach, impacting the lives of thousands of students. The reality in which the teachers of the 176 Fe y Alegría educational centers live is a dire one. Following school closures due to the health and safety measures to contain the pandemic, these teachers were met with many great challenges, one of them reaching their students in a context where access to technology, electricity and the internet is not stable. Many of them, in rural areas, looked for alternatives like hand-writing lesson plans and delivering them door to door to their students.

This pandemic has shed light on the increased inequalities in access to education, furthermore, it has also shown us the importance of the roles caretakers such as teachers have in guiding future generations. Magis Americas has joined forces with TM Cell, a distributor of mobile solutions, to support these teachers and their work as educators. TM Cell has donated 100 power banks of one of its main brands , LOGIC, with the capacity to power 100 phones. These power banks will support teachers as they continue to adapt to remote learning in a context in which electricity is often incredibly unreliable. Having reliable access to a source of energy for their phones will enable them to innovate in the ways they ensure all Fe y Alegría students have continuous learning experiences adapted to their realities.

We are excited about this collaboration as we are sure it will have a great impact on the education experiences teachers will be able to give their students. We thank TMCell for their generous donation as well as their support for these real-life heroes.  If you are interested in finding out more about how you can support Fe y Alegría in Venezuela and its teachers in their mission of taking education to where the asphalt and electricity cannot reach, impacting the lives of thousands of students, join Magis Americas.

In community, we move forward.