While conducting the reading and writing program at the church in Santa Rita it came to our attention that a family with three children was living in a gallinero (chicken coop).  This family had a small patch of land and was attempting to construct a basic block home there.  The father had done some work on the land but needed materials.  Andean Aid provided the materials to complete the house and our staff along with the congregation of the church at Santa Rita will help in completing construction.  This is an example of how Andean Aid must balance providing opportunity with relieving misery.  Can you imagine these children thriving in school and doing homework in a chicken coop?

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Today is a special day for me.  A student from the Help and Hope Center is presenting her first of a new weekly feature report.  Carment Alicia Rozo has been attending the Center in Rubio for about five years.  When I first met her I was taping video interviews of the children (see hers below the report).  She told staff after being videoed that she wanted to make a career of communication and we have been encouraging that pursuit.  She currently leads a radio program we support that reaches teens and young adults.  She also gives a video introduction on the Villa Bahareque photo gallery.  So, here is the Carmen Alicia report in both English and Spanish:

The Carmen Alicia Rozo Report

I am writing about a young girl named Yuletza.  Yuletza Yilibeth Martinez was born in San Cristobal on May 4, 1993.  Her parents are Lisbeth del Carmen Gomez and Gilberto Antonio Martinez.  She has two siblings who also attend the Help and Hope Center (a program of Andean Aid and the civil association Una Sonrisa Para Todos).  They are Juana Martinez who is ten and Brahyan Martinez who is twelve.  From the time she was very little she has lived in Villa Bahareque and is registered to attend El Chicaro school for preschool and continues studying there.  Actually she is in her fifteh year of high school at this same school, but today it is called Jose Felix Ribas.

Her goal is to graduate from high school and afterward study at a career university.  She would be delighted to study social communication.  Her hobby is listening to music.

Reporting for you – Carmen Alicia Rozo..

Until the next report.

Escribo acerca de una joven llamada Yuletza.  Yuletza Yilibeth Martinez Gomez nacio en San Cristobal el dia 05/04/93.  Sus padres se llaman Lisbeth del Carmen Gomez y Gilberto Antonio Martinez.   Tiene 2 hermanos los cuales tambien asisten al Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza (Una Sonrisa Para Todos).  Estos niños se llaman Juana Martinez que tiene 10 años de edad y Brahyan Martinez que tiene 12 años de edad.  Desde pequeña vivio en Villa Bahareque e ingreso a estudiar a los 5 años en la escuela ”El Chicaro” preescolar y continuo estudiando alli. Actualmente esta cursando 5 año de bachillerato , en esta misma escuela pero hoy en dia le cambiaron el nombre a la escuela , ahora se llama “Jose Felix Ribas”.

Su meta es graduarse de bachiller y luego estudiar una carrera universitaria.  Le encantaria estudiar comunicacion social y su hobbie es escuchar musica.

Encuesto para ustedes – Carmen Alicia Rozo.

Hasta el proximo reporte

The following facts come directly from the UNICEF web site and demonstrate why we do what we do.  Note that issues for children are family issues also.  Andean Aid touches on each of these issues through our Help and Hope Centers, counseling services and community social services projects.

Issues facing children in Venezuela

• Infant mortality has been reduced, but maternal mortality is still high, even though 94 per cent of births occur in health facilities.
• At least 21 per cent of children under five are malnourished to some degree.
• Pregnancies among adolescents are common, and most are unwanted pregnancies.
• Thousands of children are left homeless and without school due to frequent natural disasters.
• Violence affects many children and women. In most of the cases, abuse happens at home.
• Children and families living along the Colombian border are affected by the armed conflict.
• Many children are left out of the school system, especially indigenous children and children of African descent.
• Thousands of children have not been officially registered at birth.
• The rate of vertical transmission of HIV/AIDS is estimated to be 3 per cent. The prevalence of HIV among 15-25 year-olds and among women has increased.

Issues facing children in Colombia

• Approximately 3 million people (75 per cent of them women and children) have been internally displaced by violence in the past 15 years. In 2004 alone, more than a quarter million people were forced from their homes. Displaced populations have little access to safe water and to basic health and educational services.
• One third of all children are anaemic. Stunting affects 14 per cent of children under age five; 7 per cent of newborns have low birth weight.
• Despite a law prohibiting the use of children under age 18 in the National Army, there are still an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 child soldiers in urban militias and other armed forces.
• Landmine use is increasing, posing significant risks to women and children. Landmines kill at least three people in Colombia each day.
• Native American and Afro-Colombian populations suffer the highest rates of poverty, and are twice as likely to have been affected by violent armed conflict.
• Rates of domestic violence are alarming: Nearly 40 per cent of women have been attacked by their male companions. Sexual abuse of children under age 18 increased 56 per cent between 2000 and 2004.

There are an estimated 120,000 to 200,000 Colombian refugees living in Venezuela, most of them in the Colombian frontier where we serve.