Our most amazing day yet! The 4REAL crew hooked up with M1 (Dead Prez) and Umi (RBG Family) then went to check out Gustavo's barrio, el23, which is the most revolutionary barrio in Venezuela. Currently the community is extremely active in the Bolivarian Revolution. Community members are working together to provide literacy programs, health and medical centers, and food subsidy programs for their people.
Change is happening at local level and also through the support of the government. A popular Chavez slogan is; each Venezuelan has the responsibility to find 10 people who are illiterate and teach them how to read and write. We were fortunate to visit a literacy center and see how the literacy program is putting these words into action.
The literacy program Misión Robinson, based on a Cuban model, is designed to assist students of all ages with different types of learning styles. According to Yaritza Marta, coordinator of the literacy program, this approach has successfully taught one million Venezuelans to read and write in just one year. Unique to this literacy program is that while students are learning how to read and write they are also learning about the constitution and their rights as citizens. It is an inclusive approach to education that no longer excludes poor people from becoming informed and educated.
We met students aged 15-68 who gave us personal testimonies of how empowering the program is for them. Yaritza Marta claims that all Venezuelans, regardless of economic class, are encouraged to attend school. It’s possible to take classes any time of the day and if attending school, they are able to receive benefits from the government such as a monthly stipend and medical coverage.
The footage we shot today is 4REAL! We have been anticipating a show with M1 since the planning stages of 4REAL. Having M1 and Umi with us today to experience the realities of what is happening at the grass roots level in Venezuela was more than we could have hoped for. Our hopes are always high and shooting this show today exceeded our expectations. A BIG shout out to M1, Umi, Gustavo, Shaman (el23), Spin (translator) and everyone in the barrio who showed us love and welcomed us with open arms into their community.
