The initiative was a result of the need to support Venezuelans living in a reality of poverty and survival, with a lack of economic and job opportunities in this Andean nation.
In an exclusive interview with Prensa Latina, Pedo Sassone, head of the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in Ecuador, explained that the projects are based on the club system: Children and Youth in Education, dubbed “Mi Patria Venezuela”, and Innovation of Entrepreneurs, known as “My big Hometown”.
The diplomat explained that they were created due to the needs of the population in human mobility in Ecuador, given the high number of nationals without high school or university degrees in Venezuela and family groups with difficulties in integrating children and adolescents into the education system and health.
“The goal is to make a social impact and encourage Venezuelans living in Ecuador in terms of human rights protection,” he said.
According to him, the clubs are based on values such as solidarity, ethics, identity, respect and defense of rights, as well as the salvation of cultural traditions, community participation and social engagement in order to facilitate the socio-economic integration .-productive of the Venezuelan migrant population.
Regarding children, he noted that it was created as part of the consulate’s annual operational plan based on the defense of historical and cultural heritage and focused on music, visual arts, painting, singing and choral workshops, with an impact on 177 children and teenagers .
The initiative not only enables the promotion of skills for personal, school and family formation of minors, but also helps to avoid risks and situations of vulnerability, contributes to their recovery and promotes tools for national identity cohesion, he said.
In this regard, he pointed out that it is already showing concrete results from October 2021 by incorporating three components: training of cultural skills such as singing, visual arts and painting, musical and artistic preparation, and collective social life.
“It is a space for growth, friendship and at the same time they receive support in preventive and psychosocial health,” he specified.
Regarding young people in training, he pointed out that 99 were on the list for the first period, carried out from November 2021 to last February, they have already enrolled 369 for the following ones and in university studies they add up 647, of which 248 are officially registered.
To be part of this teaching, the diplomatic mission in Ecuador is supported by Venezuelan academic institutions such as the National Training Institute and the Territorial Polytechnic University of Mérida.
The higher level studies will be conducted through a virtual platform and will focus on Computer Science, Accounting, Administration and Tourism Psychology with a starting target of 200 students.
“This is an unprecedented program in terms of migrant care policy,” he said.
Sassone also noted support for 290 entrepreneurs by creating spaces for coexistence, collaborative efforts and helping them develop skills in the trade areas related to the production, distribution and marketing of products.
These clubs complete the line of work opened three years ago, the flagship program: “Vuelta a la Patria”, the only one at international level that guarantees the voluntary return of the migrant population, with 60 flights from Ecuador alone, which have benefited 5,504 Venezuelans, for a total of 130 , reported from the other nations where it is being implemented.
In this regard, he estimated that the number of returnees will increase as the national economy strengthens.
“The country has open doors for its people to return to reuniting with their families, with the work process and recovery,” he said.
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