SOS Children in Venezuela
Historically one of South America's more stable democracies, Venezuela has one of the largest known oil deposits in the world. Yet more than half the population lives in poverty in shanty towns and slums, the most infamous of which sprawl over the hillsides around the capital, Caracas.
The collapse of world oil prices at the end of the 1990s led to a further erosion of living standards and a decline in public services. There is a high incidence of anemia and iron deficiencies in children under 36 months of age.
The charity began working in Venezuela in1976 and today there are three SOS Children's Villages and several SOS projects there.
SOS Children's La Cañada (Maracaibo) community is in El Topita, 35 km south of Maracaibo, the country's second largest city. It has fourteen family houses and two youth houses which are home to over 150 children and young people. There is a kindergarten and an SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, both open to children from the local community. Two SOS social centres provide day-care for children of local working parents and single mothers, as well as welfare services for the local community.
The charity's Ciudad Ojeda community opened in 1983 in the centre of Ojeda, a small town on the eastern shores of Lake Maracaibo. It has ten family houses and two youth houses, a kindergarten and two social welfare centres for the local community.
SOS Children's Maracay community became operational in 2000. Maracay is an industrial town about 100 km east of Caracas. It has twelve family houses and a youth house. An SOS social centre was opened in 2003, providing child day care and associated welfare services.
Local Contacts
SOS Children in Venezuela:
SOS Aldeas Infantiles Venezolanas,
Avenida Principal de Los Ruices,
Edifico Centro Empresarial Los Ruices,
Piso 5 Oficina 503,
Caracas,
Venezuela
Tel: +58/212 239 15154
e-mail: sosaldea@iamnet.com
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