August 13, 2003 - Caracas, Venezuela The Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) had the pleasure of informally welcoming Venezuela as a new member of the network. The local center of the network in this country will initially operate from the Venezuela World Bank Office with the goal of establishing alliances with academic entities or those related to the education sector.

The occasion for incorporating Venezuela was made possible through the videoconference on the "Global Dialogue for Reducing Child Mortality", that highlighted as an initiative of the Millennium, is a theme of significant and important accomplishments in this country.

The interest that has been awakened by the breadth of learning opportunities that GDLN brings with it, brought about an excellent response to the invitation which was circulated by the World Bank in Venezuela. With this interest, the global dialogue counted with the prestigious participation of the Vice Minister of Health, Luisa Lopez and other high-level functionaries from national and international organizations, among these were: Zaida Carrillo, President of the National Nutrition Institute (INN); Carlos Gamarra, Luisa Rodriguez, Johnny Jimenez, Gerardo Sierra y Luisangela Andarcia, President and Advisors of the National Council for Child and Adolescent Rights (CNDNA); Maritza L. de Jimenez, Director of Antropometry of the Foundation for the Growth and Development (FUNDACREDESA); Soledad Perez, Consultant for Infant programs for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); Moni Pizani and Alejandra Corao, Consultants for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Keila Betancourt, UNICEF. The hosts for the event were the World Bank's Resident Representative in Venezuela, David Varela; Maria Magdalena Colmenares, Senior Social Specialist, and Teresita Leonardi, Coordinator of the GDLN Venezuela Center.

The global dialogue initiated with an introduction to the participating countries by Ana Maria Arriagada, Director of the Human Development Sector for the Latin America and Caribbean Region of the World Bank and was followed by the technical presentations given by Dr. Juan Carlos Bossio, Advisor for the Child and Adolescent Health Program for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Dr. Fernando Lavadenz, Public Health Specialist for the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean Region. Venezuela provided the speakers and other participating countries with a presentation by the Vice Minister of Health, Luisa Lopez, who highlighted the interest in maximizing the joint efforts being made to advance distance education, such as with the Institute of Higher Studies in Health "Arnoldo Gabaldon". This incredible news was accompanied by one with the same importance: the partnership that previously was being developed with the Venezuela Ministry of Health with the School of Public Health of the Fio Cruz Institute in Brazil, which is a recognized institution in this area.

This global dialogue also counted with the participation of Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. We cordially welcome Venezuela to the Global Development Learning Network family, wishing it success in the promotion of its experience and educational initiatives which without a doubt will provide enrich the knowledge with which GDLN already counts.

To learn more about this activity or of future GDLN activities to take place in Venezuela, please contact Teresita Leonardi at leonardi@cantv.net