In the face of economic challenges and social disparities, Venezuela has been fighting a lengthy battle affecting much of its population. In the last decade, the poverty rate in Venezuela has increased considerably each year, a glaring issue among South American countries. Fortunately, several impactful nonprofit organizations are dedicated to addressing and mitigating this growing crisis.

Alimenta la Solidaridad

This group was founded in 2016 by Roberto Patiño. It originally focused on managing the food crisis affecting the most vulnerable populations in Venezuela. The organization started small by installing canteens in neighborhoods and establishing relationships with communities and other health groups. Over time, this group has implemented programs to enhance welfare and development, evolving into one of the most effective nonprofits combating poverty. Currently, Alimenta la Solidaridad’s operations portfolio includes eight programs focused on developing community well-being.

Important programs created by Alimenta la Solidaridad addressing poverty alleviation concentrate on food security, health and nutrition. The organization has established “Community Kitchens” that provide communal cooking spaces where marginalized communities can access nutritious meals, fostering resource sharing and promoting sustainable solutions to hunger and malnutrition. The program guarantees a daily lunch containing 40% of the estimated caloric load beneficiaries should consume for optimal development. This aspect is particularly significant for communities currently facing malnutrition and scarcity consequences of poverty.

A personal account from a woman named Juanita, who runs an Alimenta la Solidaridad-sponsored community kitchen from her home, demonstrates the organization’s impact on an individual level. In 2019, massive blackouts throughout the country caused widespread panic. According to the report, Juanita was very moved that Alimenta la Solidaridad visited her community to offer help in a crisis. She expressed that they had given her hope, knowing she and her family had not been forgotten during the disaster. Years later, Juanita joined the movement to help keep the project running. The name “Alimenta la Solidaridad” translates to “Feed together in unity” and can be extrapolated to mean “an exchange of hope in a country of permanent crisis.”

Caracas Mi Convive

Roberto Patiño and Leandro Buzón founded this organization in 2013 to collaborate with local leaders and communities to promote solutions to nagging poverty and ongoing violence. Recently, the group has successfully implemented programs that support local leadership training, the development of capacities and the promotion of community organizations for the construction of safer areas. Over the last decade, the group has achieved significant accomplishments, making it one of the most impactful nonprofits fighting poverty in Venezuela today.

Many of these essential programs were created to improve living conditions and reduce violence. Caracas Mi Convive created the “Solidarity Network” (or “Red Solidaria”), a project dedicated to meeting with Venezuelan community leaders to advance social leadership, community organization and social coexistence. The Caracas Mi Convive website boldly states, “Venezuela is going through a political, social and economic crisis of great proportions. During recent years, the rule of law has been eroded, the democratic system has been fractured, institutions have been delegitimized and lack representativeness, human rights are constantly threatened and with this, the mechanisms of citizen participation have been restricted.”

In addition to combating the poverty rate in the city of Caracas, reducing the persistent threat of violence is also a priority since it greatly hinders social progress and economic development and perpetuates a cycle of instability within the population. In 2020, there was a recorded testimony from a community leader in western Caracas who was asked about violence during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This unnamed individual seemingly speaks as if violence is a familiar theme in Caracas, “I have known about many homicides that have occurred during this quarantine, especially among young people. Just a few days ago, a young man was thrown off a building from the eighth floor because of a family row. Also, two young men were killed by state security forces.” There are further statistics that indicate roughly 100 homicides occur per 100,000 citizens, making Venezuela one of the most violent countries in Latin America. To combat this issue, the nonprofit works hard to construct safer environments and living spaces within the community.

Cuatro Por Venezuela

Founded in 2016 by four Venezuelan women, this group was established to create programs and partnerships to provide poverty relief in countries facing significant needs. Over time, these four friends, Gloria Mattiuzzi, Gabriela Rondón, Maria Elena Texeira and Carolina Febres, made it their mission to grow the small organization into something greater to support the ongoing needs in their birth country. Today, this group has become one of the most impactful nonprofits fighting poverty in Venezuela by providing humanitarian aid and support throughout the country.

Cuatro Por Venezuela has implemented projects to reduce poverty and hunger, one of the most prominent being the “Zero Malnutrition” program. This program is dedicated to feeding children and disabled elderly living in remote villages two nutritious meals each day, seven days per week for one year. By addressing hunger issues and improving the health and well-being of Venezuelans, initiatives like the “Zero Malnutrition” program contribute to reducing poverty.

Between 2017 and 2022, Cuatro Por Venezuela, with the support and contributions from its donors, facilitated the shipment of 116 tons of humanitarian aid in life-saving supplies to Venezuela. With this type of humanitarian influence, it’s no surprise that the organization is widely regarded as one of the most impactful nonprofits fighting poverty and hunger in Venezuela today.

– Caleb Ilayan
Photo: Flickr