Visit to Venezuela
‘Women’s role decisive in Bolivarian process’
Published Mar 17, 2006 8:21 PM
Following are excerpts from an article written by Dominican activist
Vannia Lara, who traveled to the state of Lara in Venezuela for the first U.S./
Venezuela exchange gathering on Jan. 13-22.
From l-r: Berna Ellorin, BAYAN-USA; Monica Moorehead; Yoomi Jeong, Korea Truth Commission; Dora Carcaño, Internat'l Democratic Women's Federation; Vannia Lara; Martizel González, Cuban Women's Federation at March 10 Workers World IWD forum in NYC.
WW photo: Arturo Perez-Saad
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On my first day in
the state of Lara and with all the emotion of a newcomer, I did not even notice
that it was a co-operative that was in charge of the transportation of our
delegation. I had not realized that the co-op president was this very energetic
woman, whose better adornments were a baseball cap with the logo of
“Lancer@s de Lara” and a contagious smile. I discovered this
significant detail during a conversation I had with one of the persons who
accompanied our delegation. Her name was Lilibeth.
Lilibeth, whom I
remember with endless tenderness and affection, reported that she was the
treasurer of the Co-op Lancer@s de Lara. She is a single mother of two sons who
was officially unemployed for many years. Lilibeth told me that what is taking
place in Venezuela has changed her and her family’s life socially more
than economically.
Lilibeth tells me that through “Misión
Vuelvan Caras”, which is responsible for culturally transforming the
social relations of production in order to guarantee a better quality of life
for all Venezuelans, she had the opportunity to complete the two-year study on
socio-cultural and socio-economic development. The students who graduate from
this program receive help from the government to establish new indigenous units
of production that are within the framework of the needs of the
community.
As the conversation continued, I was feeling more eager to know
about this woman’s experience amidst such an impor tant social process.
Lilibeth says that the beginnings were difficult, that she sacrificed many hours
of sharing with her two sons to keep up with her studies. Although her mother
was complaining and saying to her that she was wasting her time and that she had
neglected her children, Lilibeth stayed strong and told her mother that what she
was thinking about was her children’s future, and that sooner than later
her efforts would pay off.
Thanks to the funds granted by the Hugo
Chávez government and after an ardu ous struggle, the co-op to which Lili
beth belongs was able to open the doors of their restaurant in a modest local
community where the menu is completely affordable for the locals. Also the
co-operative was able to consolidate their project of “Tourist
Transportation.”
Lilibeth mentions to me with subtle pride that,
when she showed her mother the two buses and the two jeeps the co-op had been
able to buy, she said to her: “Mother, I told you that our efforts would
not be in vain. What other government would have believed in us? Who else would
have helped us to obtain this that is now ours and our children’s? ”
At the pre sent the members of this co-op are working on a project on tourism
with a cultural approach that attracts both foreigners and Venezuelans who live
in other states.
A few days later Lilibeth was hit by a car and in less
than 24 she showed up to work. The first thing I noticed when I saw her was a
wound on her chin, a cast on her leg, and her particular smile. I was alarmed by
this sight and asked her what in the world she is doing here in those
conditions. I suggested to her to go back home. Lilibeth’s answer was that
she is not going away, that for her this is very important since these buses
that they had worked so hard on were being used for the first time by this
delegation. She said that she wanted to be able to participate until the end and
that this was exactly what she intended to do.
During the following days
of the delegation our schedule was filled with activities. We visited a large
number of different insti tutions, many of an autonomous character. We visited
missions, co-operatives, community organizations, urban land committees, Casa de
la Alimen ta ción, Mercal, educational forums, cultural events, etc.
We had the opportunity to share with a group of students from
Misión Ribas, of which a majority were women of different generations. We
also visited many of the numerous co-operatives that cover a pyramid of
productive needs like food, textiles, shoe manufacturing, Cuatro (National
Instrument). We visited alternative media, Barrio Adentro clinics, among many
other places.
The majority of these institutions, especially co-ops, were
led by women. It is a fact that, Venezuelan women have a decisive role in this
historical process.
This country where as late as in the 1980s, there
still existed retrogressive laws which prohibited married women, as well as
cohabiting women, to manage their own legal affairs; to make decisions with
regard to their children and decisions about obtaining employment; the right of
women to own property and to sign legal documents without the authorization of
her spouse.
The participation of women and the recog nition of their work
by the Consti tution of the Bolivarian Republic of Vene zuela, often called the
Non-Sexist Magna Carta, is more than a feminist victory; this is the integration
of women and men in a struggle to promote the adoption of new life styles in
which the stronghold is the equality, solidarity and cooperativism for
all.
The struggle has yet begun; there is still a long way to go.
Let’s roll up our sleeves!
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