Arrival into Caracas, Maiquetia International Airport.

Transfer to lodging and dinner at the hotel

Day 2: The Bolivarian Process and Regional Integration of Latin America

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

Overview of recent Venezuela history.

City Tour: Leave for Downtown, visit Simon Bolivar's birth place, the national tomb of famous leaders, Llaguno bridge, Miraflores Presidential Palace, and Altamira Square.

Visit with speakers at the UBV (Bolivarian University) about the burial of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas), the rise of ALBA (The Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America), and the importance of Regional Integration of Latin America

Visit with a coordinator for the UNT (Union Nacional de Trabajadores), a pro-government labor union formed in 2003 after the old national labor confederation CTV (Confederacion de Trabajadores de Venezuela) supported the oil lockout at PDVSA.

Viewing of "Revolution Will Not Be Televised" or "Llaguno Bridge: Keys to a Tragedy" in preparation for tomorrow's morning visit

Day 3: Breaking Through US Perceptions of Venezuela

Visit to Puente Llaguno/Llaguno Bridge, area of massacre and media coup during April, 2002.

Visit to Barrio 23 de Enero, popular poor neighborhood organized into autonomous collectives. Speak with Juan Gonzalez or Guadalupe Rodriguez, of 23 de Enero. 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 to Radio Comunitario Petare: comparison between conventional media and community radio, and freedom of the press in Venezuela.

Day 4: Endogenous Development and Oil in Venezuela

Visit to Nucleus of Endogenous Development Fabricio Ojeda (textile, subsidized food, and other cooperatives, the largest Nucleus in Caracas).

Visit to Misiones Robinson, Rivas, and Sucre: educational missions funded by PDVSA in Barrio El Valle.

Meeting in PDVSA (Venezuela's National Petroleum company) to receive an overview of the role of petroleum in Venezuela's economy. Speak with Carol Delgado or General Dester Rodriguez, chief of the Social Division of PDVSA.

Optional substitute/nighttime activity (youth-oriented): Visit to Nucleus of Cultural Development Tiuna el Fuerte (Venezuelan hip-hop and activism)

Day 5: New Rights and Participation, and the Conflict with the Opposition

Visit with representative of BANMUJER (Banco de la Mujer, the Women's Bank). Microcredit program that finances women-led development projects.

Vist CONIVE (Consejo Nacional de Indios de Venezuela, National Assembly of Indigenous Venezuelans) to speak about Misión Guaicaipuro and indigenous peoples' rights.

Visit with Eva Golinger, author of the "The Chavez Code" and researcher of NED funding/CIA role

Visit with Primero Justicia representative Delsa Solorazano or Gerardo Blyde (Opposition party that was a former NGO) OR meeting with Datanalisis, opposition-led polling program

Day 6: Rural Development and Cooperative Economics

Depart for Barquisimeto

Visit to Center of Citizen Participation in Barrio La Carucieña (community radio, community televison, organic community garden, visit to new squatter barrio "Libertad Bolivariana")

Trip to Sanare (1 hour). Visits to coffee and local agricultural cooperatives.

Day 7: The Social Missions

Bus trip to Bojo (1/2 hour), walk to Las Lajitas (45 minute uphill walk on good path -- bring good shoes, water, umbrella, sweater, sunscreen!!)

Visit to agricultural cooperative of Las Lajitas

Walk and Hike to the agricultural cooperative of Monte Carmelo (1/2 hour on steep downhill path)

Picnic lunch/Rest Conversation with community members of Monte Carmelo (women's co-op, rural youth leaders)

Visit to educational missions (talk with students who are members in 1. Mission Robinson-the basic literacy campaigns, 2. Mission Rivas-the high school and 3. Mission Sucre- the University Level.

Bus trip back to Sanare (1/2 hour)

Day 8: Rest in the Highlands

Visit to rural community of La Palmira, meet with women's group, tamunangue (traditional music/dance from state of Lara)

Time for Swimming or Hiking

Free time in Sanare (visit to plaza, internet, phone calls)

Day 9: Barquisimeto and Health in Venezuela

Visit to Centro San Juan, a center for education and traditional Venezuelan music based on afro-venezuelan heritage. Performance of traditional Venezuelan music by children's music group.

Visit to Mission Barrio Adentro, the Cuban doctors program, where over 14,000 doctors live and attend for free in poor neighborhoods, offering general practice. Talk about Barrio Adentro II and III programs with medical professionals, and the training of Venezuelan medical workers.

Historic walk around central Barquisimeto, time for shopping.

Visit with Frente Ezequiel Zamora, an organization working for campesino/farmworker rights and land reform in Venezuela.

Visit with Urban Land Committees and social programs committed to urban housing reform. Talk about urban migration and poor neighborhoods on the hills of Caracas.

Day 10: The Future of Venezuela, and Taking Knowledge Back to Your Community

Visit Organoponico de Simon Bolivar, an urban, organic agricultural cooperative in the center of Caracas and walk around the Venezuelan history mural at Parque Central

Visit to Plaza Altamira to meet with Opposition Group Clase Media en Positiva, an interesting middle-class opposition group.

Final wrap up and strategy session. How will you take this knowledge back home? What are the next steps? Final reflections.

Farewell Dinner

Day 11: Farewell!

Return to Maiquetía Intl. Airport in Caracas for Departures