Venezuela has abundant natural resources, a low population density, and a strategic geographic location. Ranked 58th in the 2007 UN Human Development Index, it is doing quite well in comparison to other Latin-American countries. Macro-economically speaking, the country has great potential to achieve even higher economic and social development, thanks to the largest proven oil reserves in the world and vast mineral reserves.

Yet reality in the slums of Venezuela’s capital, where we work, is light-years away from this macro-economic description of the country. Poverty and violence are the two keywords to describe Catia, one of the largest slums of Caracas and of Latin America altogether. There we run five primary schools, of which two are being extended into secondary schools. We are also in charge of a well-developed health centre, of courses teaching adults (especially women) to improve the management of their households, and of two shelters for homeless street children. We also work with people to improve their housing.