*** THE CHRONICLES ***
34) Visit to SOS Children’s Village Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela
Coinciding with the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday, August 8, 2008 I arrived in Ciudad Ojeda. I had traveled the 100 miles that separated me from the city early in the morning, as I knew that the mid-morning overwhelming heat characteristic of the Lake Maracaibo region would not give me respite.
After noon, I made my entry into the SOS Children's Village in Ciudad Ojeda, where a crowd of children carrying blue and white balloons welcomed me. The local press also echoed my arrival and I even had the honor of having the presence of the cycling team of the Local City Sport Center 
of Lagunillas, who showed up with their racing bikes to follow the progress of my journey
Guided by the director of the Village, José Luis Benavides, we moved to multi-use area where I presented some details of the trip amid the inquiries of the press and the questions that seemed to have no end. This time the visit would be a prolonged one because I would use some time to update the website as well as participate in the many activities of the Village’s people.
A very active Village
The SOS Children's Village Ciudad Ojeda is located in the namesake city in the Lagunillas Municipality, Zulia State, on the east coast of Lake Maracaibo. In this township are located subsidiary companies and contractors of the most important Venezuelan Oil Industry companies, which supported the project and contributed meaningfully to this Village as it was established in one of the most important regions of the country's development and trade.
The Village was built in a one hectare area, being founded on September 30, 1981. It is currently composed of twelve families in which 99 children who found a new home with the appropriate conditions for their development. Ten of these families live in houses in the village, while two of them are in homes located in the city in an initiative to integrate the families with the community and provide the children and the young adults the opportunity to expand their social networks.
Also, the facilities include the Village Director's house, the house of so-called SOS aunts (SOS mothers in training or assistants of the SOS mothers in their daily work who can replace them if they are sick or have to leave), a community house with space for parties and activities and an administrative area.
The village has a basketball court and a recreation area. There is a small academy of tae-kwon-do and a Choir involving children in the village and the external community. It has developed the Youth Education Program that includes activities in the Village for 27 young people from 12 years onwards in the areas of vocational guidance,
para job training, sexuality, community integration and participation in various elements of the program, which allows for a comprehensive development. In total, 18 mothers and aunts have been trained and to respond to the individuality of each child, where it’s obvious their commitment and empowerment.
The integration of the families of the village with the community is satisfactory, which has been achieved using different strategies. They recently hosted a holiday under the name "The galaxy of super obedient children". Recientemente organizó un
plan
vacacional con el nombre de “La galaxia de los hijos
where a total of120 children aged 6 to 13 years in the community and the families of the village had the opportunity to learn, share, enjoy, participate and meet new friends.
In Maracaibo there are two youth communities, where 12 young adults are living as part of a developing independence program. However, they are now prioritizing the return of these young people to their biological family (if they have any) after a program that allows to rebuilding their links and guarantees their rights.
Moreover, there is also the SOS Social Center Ciudad Ojeda, who was created in 1996 in a rented house in Barrio Jesus Salazar, and began serving 40 children. In 2000 the works were completed in the current headquarters building, which served 150 children aged between 6 months and 10 years of age. The Social Center manages a program of social development for families and communities, offering a range of services that are based on the development of children, mothers and families in general. It also has medical and dental clinics.
SOS Children's Villages in Venezuela
The first SOS Children's Village in Venezuela was built in La Cañada, Maracaibo, starting its activities in 1978. Approximately more than half of Venezuela's population is under the poverty line, therefore the misery of children has been and remains very large. That is why they have created new SOS Children's Villages further north of the country where the majority of the population resides. In 1996 the first SOS Youth Homes in Maracaibo and Maracay were opened. The homes are available to young adults from all SOS Children's Villages in the country where they are prepared for independent living.
Since 1990, SOS Children's Villages Venezuela supports young entrepreneurs, creative and educated by the SOS Children's Villages who want to establish on their own, giving them interest-free loans. That way, many young people have become successful entrepreneurs.
The SOS Social Centers support the improvement of living conditions of the poor. They offer care all day, health care, balanced nutrition for children and provide to the many single mothers an opportunity to
find employment. Meanwhile, the SOS Social Centers fortify family ties to avoid the abandonment of children, through work with the mothers and the community.
In December 1999, a series of torrential rains devastated Venezuela, leaving many people homeless. Due to this, SOS Children's Villages launched an SOS Emergency Program in the framework of which it supplied the population during four months with medicines, tools and appliances and also assisted in the search of relatives.
Today there are three SOS Children's Villages Venezuela (Maracaibo, Maracay, and Ciudad Ojeda), projecting for 2009 a new SOS Children's Village in Caracas and one in Mérida in the year 2010. There are several SOS Youth Homes, two SOS Kindergartens, one SOS Hermann Gmeiner School, a vocational training center and various SOS Social Centers.
Feeling at home
My stay at the SOS Village in Ciudad Ojeda became the longest so far. An infection in a tooth demanded urgent attention and the treatment required a long time to recover. While being subjected to such a treatment by the experienced dentist SOS Social Center, I got involved in various activities.
Along with José Luis, we did an exhaustive tour to the local press; to the point that not even changing the frequency or channel seemed possible avoid me. Many radio programs, television and newspapers in the region covered my time in the area, highlighting the work of SOS Children's Villages in the region and the rest of the country.
Taking advantage of the fact that I had coincided with the closing of the Vacation Plan "The galaxy super obedient children”, I took part of the field trip that was done for the little ones visiting the Planetarium Maracaibo. During the week I also assembled a presentation to teach the children the instances of the previous visits throughout my journey through the Americas, featuring videos, stories and photographs from my experiences on the bicycle. That night I was treated to a surprise welcome dance organized by the teenagers who made a choreographed Arabic dance.
Day by day I toured the homes and shared everyday moments with the kids at their homes, meanwhile I was working on the computer that I was provided with in the Village to move forward with the chronicles and reports of visits to other villages that had yet to draft.
Following the Olympic Games within the chances I had, time was moving slowly and I was feeling increasingly at home. In Ciudad Ojeda I had a great family and a new home.
A commitment for all
The important work that SOS Children's Villages does needs of your generosity to continue to develop. Be sure to visit the organization and make a donation!!
To donate directly to the SOS Village of Venezuela you can do so via the following contact:
Office Fundraising Venezuela
Telephone: (0212) 237-1937 / 239-0340
Fax: (0212) 235-0655
e-mail: amigos@sosaldeas.org.ve
To contact the SOS Children's Village Ciudad Ojeda:
José Luis Benavides (Director)
Telephone: (0265) 662-2927 / (0414) 639-3798
Fax: (0265) 662-1167
e-mail: aldea.ciudadojeda@sosaldeas.org.ve
jluis.benavides@sosaldeas.org.ve
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!
Acknowledgments
To Jose Luis Benavides, director of the SOS Village Ciudad Ojeda: for giving me the means to conduct my activities and giving a new home.
To Eva Kieczka, national director of SOS Children's Villages Venezuela: for managing my time in Ciudad Ojeda SOS Village and the unconditional support.
To Dalia Sousa, director of the SOS Social Center Ciudad Ojeda: for your warm welcome and for giving me the resources needed to meet the dentists of the institution.
To Rossana Pizzini, France and Mariel Vasquez Chacon, the team of SOS Village: for enduring me and taking care of my claims and needs, coordinating the day to day activities during my visit.
To José Iazarra: for transporting me from one place to another at all times.
To Andres Rojas, director of Sports Institute of Lagunillas, and the cycling team of the municipality, who approached me in welcoming my arrival in Ciudad Ojeda.
To the press members that came to cover the visit and my stay showing great interest in the social work of the SOS Children's Villages. In particular: Carlos Montiel, Maracaibo, who since my first days in Venezuelan lands was there to promote and support the project of my journey. Also a very special thanks to Zabdiel Gutiérrez, Rixia Navarro, Duglenis Rincon, Eliana Matheus, Maryuly Pinto Daniel Alejandro Quijada and the time they provided me on their respectives shows and programs to disseminate my social work.
To Damaris and Daniela Trujillo: for the exemplary work performed to organize events and activities in the Village, being a role model for other kids there.
To Daisy Jimenez and Javier Rivera, dentists SOS Social Center: for solving my problems with my rebellious teeth.
To Rafael, Nellys and Yissetd: for the every day friendliness and smiles.
To Edgar Devoss Quant: for the haircut.
To Antony: for your great sense of humor and permanent good vibes.
To Matilda, Antonieta, Flora, Zenaida, Yosimary, Neri, Elba, Lidis and other SOS mothers and aunts of the Village: they treated me like one more in their families.
To the children and young adults from the SOS Village Ciudad Ojeda: for their endless demonstrations of love and affection.
