Venezuela : Merida Language School

August 01, 2009 - August 18, 2009

Two Week Program

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 while experiencing intensive Spanish language instruction.

Study Spanish in Venezuela with Global Exchange and combine your language study with a true education in Latin America's most progressive social movements. Meet with human rights activists, rural agricultural workers, labor unions, community activists, journalists, and government as well as opposition figures, and see for yourself the unprecedented social change that is occurring at this historic time in Venezuela and the region. At the crossroads of the Andean mountains, the Caribbean coast, the Amazon rainforest, and the Amacuro River Delta, Venezuela's wondrous natural diversity and beauty combined with its visionary social justice agenda guarantee an exciting -- and unforgettable -- experience.

Our language school partners is the Iowa Institute. For more information click here.

Read articles and blogs by past participants.

Program Highlights:

  • Study in an intesive Spanish Language Program in Merida, Venezuela, at the foot of the Andes.
  • Travel to educational and health care social programs (the "missions") 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, 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.
  • View Sample Itinerary for this Tour

Cost: $1950

Price Includes:

  • Homestay accommodations
  • Two meals per day
  • Transportation to and from Merida from Caracas
  • Transportation to and from all programmed activities
  • Intensive Spanish language classes five days a week
  • Guides and translators
  • A qualified trip leader
  • All program activities and reading materials
  • Honoraria to all host speakers, organizations and communities.
  • NOT INCLUDED: International airfare, lunches, airport departure taxes, tips, and personal expenses are not included.
  • Single hotel rooms are available for an additional $200 per two week session.
  • Learn more about fundraising or scholarship opportunities.

How to Register:

We must receive your application and a non-refundable deposit of $200 two months before departure. A late fee of $50 will be applied to late applications. Payments by Mastercard or Visa are welcome.

This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. We strongly urge people of color to apply. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.

Make your reservation online now!

Contact Daniel with any questions about this trip, or call toll-free 1-800-497-1994 ext. 247.

Trips on related issues:

  • Art and Culture
  • Civil Rights
  • Education
  • Environment and Sustainability
  • Health and Healing
  • Labor and Economy