After COVID19, 1.5M+ children from rural and urban slums remain out of the Venezuelan school system. The socio-economic crisis has disproportionately impacted indigenous groups who lack basic services (WASH, food security, education or connectivity) and have a violence component in their communities. Aseinc has combined NVELE and Aulas de Paz (HundrEd 2022) to offer an integral response.
NVELE addresses the needs of children left out of the school system, living in vulnerable and high-risk sectors. The integral program aims to identify, engage, train, and equip not only teachers but parents, caretakers, and community leaders to become NVELE multipliers. Minimum skills are required: literacy, math, and self-motivation to deliver. NVELE develops children's linguistic and mathematical skills through stimulation of logical and critical thinking, socioemotional strategies, and management of soft skills, combined with a food program for participating families. Aseinc opened 20 “alternative classrooms” for indigenous groups and incorporated the Aulas de Paz program, to build and reinforce a culture of peace with tools to manage emotions and reduce domestic violence for those living in crowded conditions (3modules methodology: “I recognize myself”, “I recognize you", "We live together"). After a year of leveling NVELE has a transition process to bring students back to school.
Since 2019 and with the support of key social responsible partners (Education Cannot Wait and UNICEF) Aseinc created 245 alternative learning centers, 735 NVELE alternative classrooms in Venezuela; reached 14.7+K children and adolescents participated; 53.3K+ food kits, 43K+ hygiene and 25K education kits were provided. Up to date 28ktK cases received psychosocial support and 1,5K+ information flyers were distributed. Aseinc has trained 518 Community Facilitators in inclusive pedagogy and fast learning to support more than 3,1K children and youth to return to school. Even though 80% of kids participating in the program were leveled according to their grade and age and enrolled in their local school, there are still 5,6K kids out of school in the communities where the program is implemented.
If any organization or community is interested in NVELE, Aseinc (Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Educación Integral y Comunitaria /Association for the Development of Comprehensive Education and Communities) can share information on how to adapt this socioemotional program to other vulnerable communities, and prepare teachers and community trainers. Email Carolina Orsini, Executive Director.
