FOCUS AREAS Education Health

Socioeconomic Context

  • A family needs $550 a month to cover the basic food basket; the minimum wage covers less than 1% of that cost.
  • 83% of the population lives in multidimensional poverty, facing simultaneous deficiencies in food, health, education, and living conditions.
  • It is estimated that less than 40% of manufacturing and commercial businesses in the Táchira axis remain active.
  • The educational crisis deepens with an estimated teacher dropout rate of 72% in recent years.

    • THE PROJECT

    • Faced with the urgent need to combat childhood malnutrition on the Táchira border, the Santa Elena community kitchen was born from a collaborative effort with local community leaders. We guarantee a daily lunch that covers 40% of each child's daily caloric requirements, while also integrating educational support based on learning games to combat literacy gaps and strengthen reading comprehension and analytical skills, ensuring the children are properly nourished.

    • Nutritional Component

      Providing a daily high-protein meal from Monday to Friday, supplying approximately 40% of the daily caloric requirements for 40 children and 10 older adults who attend the center. Participants have access to a balanced, diverse diet planned by health professionals from Fundacion Bengoa, ensuring the delivery of key micronutrients for their well-being. This component aims to prevent and combat malnutrition in the area, preventing the lack of food from limiting children's physical growth, cognitive development, and learning potential.

    • Educational Component

      To combat literacy gaps and strengthen reading comprehension, the children participate in Exploradores de Lectura (Reading Explorers), a one-hour workshop held four days a week, either before or after lunch. The program implements a methodology developed by Fundación Impronta and Alianza Por La Educación. Through phonics, storytelling, and playful dynamics, children strengthen their reading skills, imagination, critical thinking, and analytical capacity.

    HOW CAN YOU HELP?

    Comprehensive project cost: $54 per child per month (food and education)

    With $36 we feed 1 child for 1 month

    With $18 we provide literacy and education to 1 child for 1 month

    With $648 we feed, educate, and provide literacy to 1 child for 1 year

    Your donations are
    tax deductible in the US!

    You can also send your donation via Zelle to
    donate@venturaorbit.org

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