Last Thursday Andean Aid President Wayne Cramer, Una Sonrisa Para Todos Director Gaby Andrade and Professor Aliro Gregorio Ruiz Castillo paid a visit to the Chancellor of UPEL University in Rubio. We outlined the success of our Reading and Writing Program which utilizes student teachers from the university. These students have an array of projects they can select to meet the community service requirement for their degree. The Chancellor stated that reading and writing are the building blocks for a child’s success in school – a stance that we surely agree with. He also said that our program was the very best project a student teacher could select and he would like us to expand the project to more poor communities. Professor Aliro expressed concern that teaching reading and writing was viewed as too basic and unglamorous for many students. The Chancellor then asked if Andean Aid could provide photographs, video and ideas to present the importance of the project. We left friends and like minded.
After our time with the Chancellor we visited Janett in the information office where we were interviewed for an upcoming article in the university magazine coming out next month. This magazine will be distributed to all nine UPEL University sites throughout Venezuela. So, the journey continues. Step by step God is laying the foundation of Andean Aid’s ministry in Venezuela and Colombia.
