In Venezuela, young mothers are in a situation of vulnerability due to extreme poverty. They often belong to poor as well as broken families. Besides, they don’t have access to medical care and lack the resources to buy medicines as well as food. The project of Salud y Familia seeks to offer them job training opportunities in order to improve their living conditions, encouraging attitudes and skills for personal as well as family improvement.

Currently, the Limmat Foundation’s local partner Salud y Familia runs training in entrepreneurship, for example as a baker, hairdresser or podiatrist. A workshop on the topic of “values” takes place in all courses, as mothers have identified open questions in this area, which was also reflected in the different fields of work.

The focus of the project is on young mothers. However, in 2023, the enrolment was extended until the age of 40 because of great interest. The mothers with a higher age expressed their big wish to achieve economic independence to help their families. Small business start-up assistance continues to be implemented as a form of loan for mothers in the course.

In cooperation with Swissocial an impact measurement is carried out at the moment which helps to show the positive changes in the mother’s lives and to figure out in which parts the project can still be improved.