Education and combatting child labor in Venezuela

Child labor is a major problem facing the entire cocoa and chocolate sector. Due to our belief that to have the greatest impact any action must be collective, we joined the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) in 2017. The ICI is a foundation dedicated to protecting children in cocoa-growing communities which works to ensure a better future for children and their families.

In addition to implementing locally managed child protection systems, the International Cocoa Initiative Foundation has identified community development, women’s empowerment and access to education as key levers to prevent child labor.

RENOVATION OF GUAYABAL SCHOOL, VENEZUELA

By Julien Desmedt, Sourcer

A few kilometers from our project “Agropecuaria Santa Ana” is a primary school with more than 90 children between 6 and 11 years old. The primary school of the town of Guayabal was built in 2005 and has since become run-down and dangerous for children: there are cracks in the walls, water leaks and faulty electrical connections. This infrastructure did not meet the minimum health and safety requirements for children and the 16-person teaching team. 
This is why our partner Casa Franceschi, through its foundation the Fundación San José, has offered funding to the Valrhona Foundation for rehabilitation work. The renovation work lasted about three months and focused on restoring walls, cleaning outside areas, and repairing floors and roofs.

Before renovation

After renovation