Teaching Activities for: ‘As Venezuela Collapses, Children Are Dying of Hunger’

Photo

Before reading the article:

What do you know about the current economic crisis in Venezuela?

View the photos above from the beginning of the article. What do you see? What feelings and thoughts come up for you? What questions do you have?

Now, read the first section of the article, “As Venezuela Collapses, Children Are Dying of Hunger,” (stop when you get to ‘So Many Children’) and answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think the authors begin the article with Kenyerber’s story?

2. What have been some of the consequences of Venezuela’s economic collapse?

3. How has the crisis affected low-income families in particular?

4. What has caused the sharp increase of malnourished children in Venezuela?

5. How has the Venezuelan government tried to cover up the number of malnourished children? Why is the government trying to hide it?

6. Why does President Nicolás Maduro refuse to accept international aid?

7. What do economists think caused the current economic disaster in Venezuela?

Finally, tell us more about what you think:

Choose one or more of the following sections from the article to read and answer the questions for it. How does each of these stories help you better understand the current situation in Venezuela?

‘So Many Children’

1. What problems did Kleiver Enrique Hernandez’s family face that led to him becoming malnourished?

2. Why was it so difficult for Kleiver’s parents to find him treatment?

Helpless and Indignant

3. How have hospitals been affected by the economic crisis?

4. What details from this passage help illustrate the severity of malnourishment in Venezuela?

Digging Through Garbage

5. How many households have become unable to afford food since the economic collapse?

6. How do many people earn money and feed their families now?

Turning to the Streets, or Sterilization

7. Why do some young children choose to live on the streets instead of at home with their families? What is life on the streets like for them?

8. Why are many women opting to be sterilized?

Skipping Meals So Her Children Can Eat

9. Why is the suffering of Venezuelan families expected to worsen in the next year?

10. What political reasons are involved in the government’s refusal of international aid?