VENEZUELA: Visit to Women's Bank project

Katrina Heckendorf, Puerto Ordaz

The third Global Encounter in Solidarity with the Bolivarian Revolution, held April 13 16, provided foreign participants with an opportunity to learn about local social projects. In the south-eastern city of Puerto Ordaz, a group of participants visited the Banmujer or Women s Bank.

Government officials and conference organisers travelled with the group to a municipal building, much like a neighbourhood centre in Australia. The building had been decorated by local land committees with information and displays of their activities, including photos of ceremonies where land titles had been handed over to local residents. The centre also provides space for meetings, a small library and employment training courses, such as hairdressing, for local women.

The government officials then introduced the solidarity group to members of Banmujer, who were very excited to share with us their experiences.

One of the Banmujer members explained that she had been in a bad financial situation in which she had spent all of her time cleaning other people's houses. The owner of one of the houses informed her about the Banmujer project and she, in turn, contacted women she knew, asking whether they wanted to be involved and what skills they might be able to provide. After forming a group, they applied for seed funding from the government. This was used to develop skills and produce beautiful craft items. Once the money was recouped it was returned to the government. As with other community banks, the money is then passed on to another group.

The women found the skills gained and particularly the opportunity to participate in the group extremely valuable. The group's initiator, for instance, now coordinates the group and is beginning another in the local area, this time with support from an international aid organisation. Through tears, she described how the project had completely changed her life and how grateful she is to the Chavez government and other women involved in Banmujer.

From Green Left Weekly, April 27, 2005.

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From GLW issue 624