From 2006 through 2012, Chevron invested more than $75 million in community engagement activities. Our efforts are focused on two areas: education and economic development. We also support health and cultural programs.
Education for Growth
Chevron believes that education is the foundation for sustainable development. Since 2005, Chevron has partnered with the Ministry of Education to advance teaching skills and thereby improve education in communities near our operations.
Currently the company is the sole sponsor of the Aula 20 program, which trains all the teachers from 15 schools in the Caracas area and the states of Anzoategui and Zulia. Teachers have received instruction in math and reading skills to educate about 10,000 children. In 2013, Chevron expanded this initiative to the Fe y Alegría public education system, a network of schools serving poor and underserved students.
In the state of Zulia, Chevron has refurbished 11 schools and has a maintenance program in place to ensure continued upkeep. Chevron is expanding Suürula WakuaIpa Elementary School, in one of the poorest municipalities in the state. The Wayúu school serves about 500 students.
Chevron also supports the Centro de Formación Profesional San Francisco in the Maracaibo area. The program offers vocational training to young people from low-income families. A second training facility was inaugurated in 2011 to enable more than 300 students to attend year-round.
Economic Development
Chevron developed the Emprered program, which has trained more than 1,500 people in project development, marketing, finance and other skills necessary to develop a sustainable business. This program is active in four states. As part of this program, Chevron provides loans and training through Empremujer, the country's first entrepreneur network for women.
Ingenuity is one of Chevron's core values. For the past nine years, we have sponsored the Ideas Contest to promote innovation and community-oriented development. The program recognizes innovative ideas developed by women with the Chevron Award for Women Entrepreneurs.
Health
Chevron has consistently supported health programs to improve the lives of people living in the communities where we operate. We have partnered with seven different organizations to provide surgeries to treat almost 3,000 children with cranial malformations and cleft palate.
In the states of Anzoategui and Delta Amacuro, Chevron supports the Healthy Communities program in partnership with Fundación Paragüero. The program supplies equipment to outpatient clinics and offers preventive health training to help more than 500 patients each year.
Cultural Programs
Chevron is the proud sponsor of the Venezuela Youth Orchestra System, which provides quality musical education to hundreds of children. The program has produced accomplished professionals and enabled many Venezuelan musicians to work abroad, including Gustavo Dudamel, the world-renowned director of Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Updated: April 2013
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