We invite you to travel to Venezuela with Global Exchange to dig past the headlines and explore the changes occurring in Venezuela, Latin America and the hemisphere as a whole. On a Global Exchange tour to Venezuela you will meet with human rights activists, rural agricultural workers, labor unions, community activists, journalists, and government officials and opposition figures, and see for yourself the unprecedented social change that is occurring at this historic time in Venezuela and the region.
Step outside the boundaries of what you expect Venezuela to be like. See for yourself the cultural diversity in Afro-Venezuelan music and dance. Breathe in the varied landscapes at the crossroads of the Andean mountains, the Caribbean coast, the Amazon rainforest, and the Amacuro River Delta. This insider's peek at Venezuela's wondrous natural diversity and beauty will guarantee a powerful experience. Read articles and blogs by past participants. [2]
Please email Corina [3] if you would like to recieve a sample itinerary for this delegation.
- Travel to Venezuela's educational and health care "missions" and social programs in urban areas and dialogue with participants and community leaders
- Learn about the oil industry--Venezuela's key source of national income--and Venezuela's role in economic regionalization, by meeting with high-level representatives
- Meet with small coffee farmers in the Andes mountains to hear their experience of land reform and ecologically sound farming methods
- Dialogue with religious leaders, labor leaders, women's organizations, human rights groups and Bolivarian circles
- Find out about new programs for women under the new constitution, and perspectives of indigenous peoples and people of African descent in Venezuela
- Visit sites of the Literacy Campaign and learn about its successes and challenges
- Enjoy Afro-Venezuelan music and dance by young people who are reclaiming and celebrating their heritage
- Extend your stay in Venezuela and visit Merida, the Jewel of the Andes; the beautiful archipelago of Los Roques north of Caracas; or the world's highest waterfall, Salto Angel (Angel Falls), each situated in a spectacular natural setting
- Buy a copy of Venezuela Speaks! Voices from the Grassroots, a bottom-up oral history of Venezuela's democratic revolution. Click here to buy a copy and get an alternative view on Venezuela [4]
- Cost assumes double-room accommodation, but if we are unable to pair delegates accordingly, we will assign single-occupancy accommodation at an additional $300
- Two meals per day', 'Transportation to and from all programmed activities
- Language translation
- A qualified delegation facilitator
- All program activities and honoraria to all host speakers, organizations and communities
- Reading materials
- NOT INCLUDED: International airfare, lunches, airport departure taxes, tips, and personal expenses.
- Single rooms are available for an additional $300.
To register, please send in your application form and a deposit of $400. Payments by Mastercard, Visa and Discover are welcome. Deposits are non-refundable unless the trip is canceled by Global Exchange as explained below.
Please note: We must meet a minimum number of trip participants on every trip, so please register early!
To ensure that all participants can plan accordingly, the minimum number of participants must be reached within 30 days before departure, or the trip will be canceled. If the trip cancels registered participants can choose to receive a full refund or transfer to a future group. Once a trip is confirmed (reaches the minimum # of participants) registrations may be accepted up to 30 days before the departure date.
This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.