On 12 February, students at Táchira Catholic University visited JRS projects in the Guasdualito city bordering Colombia.

The visit to Guasdualito in Alto Apure state is part of an ongoing eight-month youth leadership programme involving Jesuit universities across Latin America. The students use video, role play and discussion to learn about refugees and the work carried out by JRS Venezuela on the border with Colombia.

The students, between the ages between 18 and 24, come from a variety of university departments, including commerce, human resources, law, political sciences and education. Through a greater understanding of social, political and economic issues, the programme gives students the theoretical and practical tools to become leaders and promote sustainable development. The principal issues covered include refugees and human rights, making cooperation with JRS all the more important.

"We would like to convince them to work, directly or indirectly, with refugees", JRS advocacy officer on the border, Joakim Daun, told Dispatches.

Beyond the theory

The students involved in the programme are looking to do something more than work in the classroom. They are looking to learn about social work carried out on the Venezuelan-Colombian border.

"We always study theory. I joined the group to do something real, something more practical that will contribute to social change", Agustín, one of the participants, told JRS Venezuela.

"During the role-plays that we developed on refugee issues, one of the girls told me how it affected her, that she felt a void … this is precisely what we are looking for, to help create awareness, to show others how vulnerable people can be when they are left without anything, when we are forced to confront situations as hard as the effects of violence" JRS Venezuela project officer in Guasdualito, Martha Amador, told Dispatches on 2 March.

For further information see www.jrs.net/reports

Story dated: 17/03/09

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