Ximena Lama Rondón

Ximena Alfonsina Lama-Dookeran Content Writer, Copy Editor, and Translator-Skype: xlamar89 "There Is Only Hunger Now": Soup Kitchens Rise in Caracas Slums amid Food Shortages At La Union, one of the continent's biggest slums, soup kitchens bring grassroots politics to a deeper level After a decade of political instability and 180% yearly inflation, violent riots and endless lines have become the new normal in Caracas, Venezuela's capital. However, as shortages become more acute by the day, community soup kitchens are becoming a key part of the opposition parties' strategy to reconnect with the people and take back their country. In the slum of La Union, east of Caracas, what started like a weekly gathering of 300 people who were struggling to feed their families has grown into a weekly event that feeds over 1200 people and gives everyone a chance to organize, share their grievances, and find new ways to get involved in formal politics. Gathering the Neighbors Around A Hearty Sancocho A "sancocho" has traditionally been one of the keystones of Venezuelan home cooking. A hearty soup that combines potatoes, cassava, chunks of beef, pumpkin, and an assortment of veggies, the sancocho was until recently an old-fashioned way to feed the entire family out of a single pot, made out of the ingredients everyone had lying around in their kitchens. However, it's been several months since meat became a luxury in Caracas, and securing basic ingredients like potatoes and oil became a back-breaking ordeal. In working class neighborhoods, many go hungry or have resorted to eating just one meal a day. The duress experienced by citizens, combined by the constant persecution of foreign journalists and opposition leaders, make local politics seem like a superfluous hobby. Under such dire circumstances, a local council member in La Unión, José Palacios, quietly began organizing his constituency to cook a massive pot of sancocho every week, in order to "sponsor creativity and solidarity" – and began organizing them for change. Anarchy and Precariousness Know No Barriers Now After the departure of foreign investors, the fall of oil prices, and the collapse of most stateowned industries, Venezuela now struggles to remain functional. Constant power shortages have led most offices to open only twice a week, violent organized crime took over entire areas of the capital, and food insecurity is now commonplace. According to recent polls, 6 out of 10 parents in Caracas' working class neighborhoods have skipped a meal in order to feed their own kids. Ximena Alfonsina Lama-Dookeran Content Writer, Copy Editor, and Translator-Skype: xlamar89 While most of the country's upper class elite, and a sizable amount of its middle class, have now fled the country, those who remain no longer find themselves privileged. If having access to foreign currency used to provide an additional shield against stagnant salaries and wildlyfluctuating prices, now that most shelves are empty, money in the bank means little. According to Palacios, in Venezuela there are "no more rich or poor people, just hungry people." After personally helping people chop up vegetables, sourcing giant pots, and seasoning the sancocho himself, Jose Palacios sees an opportunity for the country to become more generous in this hard times. As his project feeds more and more people every weekend, it also brings them together in a relaxed, yet orderly environment: he has fostered a unique environment that allows the poorest to organize, discuss, and find their own voice, in preparation for when "saner times" return to the country. Further questions? Just e-mail me or message me via Upwork and I’ll be happy to provide you with references or to negotiate special rates for ongoing projects or urgent work.