Cod Academy helps Portuguese-Venezuelans

For almost 13 years, Portuguese-Venezuelan people living in Los Teques (30 kilometres south of Caracas) have been meeting to help their compatriots in need, in gatherings at the Los Altos Mirandinos Cod Academy (Abam).

“Abam has been working for almost 13 years, helping our community and also Venezuelans. Today’s gathering has more than 100 people and we are celebrating Saint Anthony’s Day, Father’s Day and the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities”, explained the honorary consul of Portugal in Los Teques.

Founder of Abam, Pedro Gonçalves, spoke to Lusa on Tuesday, on the sidelines of yet another monthly gathering, which took place in Polo Bristó, at the Los Teques Country Club.

The consul explained that, despite the time it has been operating, Abam was only officially established a year ago and the funds raised are intended to help local homes for the elderly, homes for abandoned children or children whose parents are in prison .

“We perform a great social function, which is recognized by the community. This is an agricultural area, where there are more than 30 thousand Portuguese and Portuguese descendants , and there is a great need, there are many people asking for help”, he said.

Pedro Gonçalves also said that there are Portuguese people who receive local aid from the Portuguese Government , which is complemented, in its own way, with visits from Abam, during which food and medicine are delivered.

“The Portuguese government is helping our needy community a lot, but Abam has met some of the needs for medicines and [aided] situations in which people cannot afford hospitalizations,” he said.

Celestino José dos Santos, president of Abam, explained to Lusa that the institution's management is made up of “eight compadres” who are very attentive to the needs of the community and Venezuelans.

“Here in Los Altos Mirandinos there are four orphanages and homes with abused street children (Venezuelan), many of whose mothers are incarcerated in a local jail. We bring them diapers, detergents and food: hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and snacks. They spend a different day with us and they really enjoy it,” he said.

In addition to this support, there have been cases of homes that need help because “the pipes are collapsed”, added Celestino dos Santos.

“In these cases, we hire a plumber to do the work and the necessary cleaning,” he said.

Regarding the gatherings, the president of Abam explained that they take place monthly and that, even in times when there was a shortage, cod was always on the menu of the day: “It is always cod, in one way or another, it can be baked or Portuguese”.