Benposta

Our partner is a non-profit-organization founded 1956 in Spain by Jesús César Silva Méndez. Benposta Venezuela was founded 1990. The organization enables kids living in a family-like environment where they are educated in various aspects of life (social, school, artistic etc.). The idea is a model-like society independent from race, sex, faith, social and national background. PROGRAMMES DEVELOPED BY THE FOUNDATION : Education, health care, alimentation, formation in different craftsmen ships (gardening, cooking, etc.) in different areas of Venezuela: - Isla de Zapara, EDO Zulia (a free of charge canteen and craftsmen workshop) - Colegio de Benposta with about 400 students and an apartment for 20 students (residents of Benposta) within the school - Los Frailes, EDO Zulia : o free of charge canteen for 180 children o health care centre, dentist, library, shop, multi-purpose hall, kitchen o houses for 20-40 children from Benposta o a day-care house for 50 children between the age of 0-6 years from Monday to Friday, where they get medical attention, healthy food and clothes GENERAL OBJECTIVE : Benposta would like to improve the quality of life of these indigenous children and give them a realistic chance to help their families by being properly educated. Where they live either there is no school or the school is not working, often their parents either cannot or do not want to educate their children (they often send them to work on the fields instead of sending them to school, if there is a functioning school). SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES : 1. Most important is an improvement of the quality of life ; 2. Educate the children so they can claim their rights and defend their race; 3. Educate the children (through “benposta”, which is a proven pedagogic concept) to become leaders in their communities; 4. Children shall bring the knowledge and things they learn back to their roots; 5. Give them a broader vision of life and the world: culture, eat healthy food, boil water to make it drinkable, waste management, recycling, make them aware of environmental issues, maintain and conserve the nature, sexual education to avoid 11 year old girls getting pregnant (which is still happening frequently), conserve their roots, make handcraft and maintain their native language.