Arrival into Caracas, Maiquetia International Airport

Transfer to lodging and dinner near hotel.

Day 2:

Breakfast and Orientation Meeting: participant introductions, presentations by trip leaders, and a review of GX code of conduct and expectations.

Political Tour of the City: Visit Simon Bolivar's birth place, the national tomb of famous leaders, Llaguno's bridge, Miraflores, Nacional Assembly, Altamira Square, Los Proceres, and Mega-Mercado.

Overview of recent Venezuelan history and current political situation with local journalist.

Watch film presentation to provide historical and political background of the Bolivarian Revolution: "Venezuela and the Fourth World War" produced by Calle y Media Collective.

Day 3:

Visit to Barrio 23 de Enero, popular poor neighborhood organized into autonomous collectives. Speak with 23 de Enero community leaders. Visit to health and educational missions in the neighborhood. Meet with members of Colectivo Alexis Vive to speak about neighborhood organizing and political participation.

Visit with Eva Golinger, author of "The Chavez Code" and researcher of United States intervention in Venezuela.

Day 4:

Arrival in Mérida. Orientation at Iowa Institute and introduction to families.

Day 5:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Day 6:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Travel to El Vigía to visit carpentry, tapicería, and agriculture cooperatives formed through the support of Misión Vuelvan Caras. Spanish for "Mission About-Face", Mision Vuelvan Caras has the ultimate goal of transforming the Venezuelan economy by supporting the development of cooperatives.

Return to Mérida

Day 7:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Visit to tourist cooperative of Misión Vuelvan Caras in Tabay

Day 8:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Meeting with student opposition group

Day 9:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Travel to Mucuchíes, a 400 year old Andean town.

Introduction to a Centro Campesino, (small farmer center) an organization that supports sustainable rural development in the Andean region of Venezuela.

Day 10:

Visit to trout cooperative in San Rafael, village near Mucuchies, and surroundings.

Visit areas of interest in Mucuchíes.

Visit to CIDA, Centro de Investigacion de Astronomia, an astronomical research center, museum, and observatory.

Day 11:

Activities with youth of Mucuchíes

Return to Mérida

Day 12:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Lecture on media and freedom of the press

Day 13:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Visit to Misión Barrio Adentro, Misión Ribas, or Misión Mercal to understand the impacts and issues around the "Missions", or social programs being implemented by the government and funded mostly by PDVSA, the national oil company.

Day 14:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Lecture by University of the Andes professor on Gender issues in political movements

Day 15:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Visit to Community Radio Project, an independent radio station.

Day 16:

Spanish Lessons at Iowa Institute

Travel to Tucaní to visit with community.

Check in, dinner, and discussion

Day 17:

Group departs for Caracas AM

Arrival, free time for beach.

Wrap-up meeting and planning for steps to take back home

Day 18:

Return to Maiquetía International Airport in Caracas for departures.