Andrés Bello Catholic University aids socially disadvantaged communities through 'Social Park' 

and health center service 

27 September 2019 
__________________ 
 
The maxim that identifies the ​Andrés Bello Catholic University ​(Venezuela) throughout its almost 
66 years of history is "In everything to love and serve". For the university, these words are a 
substantive function and a seal of its humanity-focused academic structure that allows for future 
alumni to be sensitized to their surrounding environments.  

At UCAB, social extension is understood as the permanent relationship established between the 
institution and surrounding communities. By dedicating efforts and resources with the purpose of 
influencing the processes of social transformation, USAB creates alliances to achieve the 
objectives of development that benefit communities and their members, which is in line with 
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for the Goals​. 

The core center of the social extension activities of UCAB is Father Manuel Aguirre S.J. Social Park, 
whose doors have remained open uninterruptedly since September 1999, serving as a bridge for 
communication between surrounding communities and the university, as well as a platform for 
UCAB’s social commitment. Moisés Carvallo, General Director of Social Extension of UCAB, 
explains, “the idea is to unify criteria, contribution and work hand in hand with the community. The 
Social Park allows the university to get to the communities with all its will and capacity, and to build 
solution with the community​ for the community​”. 

Social Park offers socially disadvantaged communities a series of services that include community 
organization; human resources training programmes; education for children and young people out 
of school; legal, clinic, economic and accounting advice; environmental sustainability advice; 
psychological guidance and promotion of health. The service offered by students, professors and 
professionals voluntarily in Social Park is oriented towards seeking to r​ educe inequalities​ (SDG 10) 
and to collaborate for the development of s
​ ustainable communities​ (SDG 11). 

“We seek to carry out activities that can lead to community empowerment. The idea is that the 
communities will be actively linked, assuming leadership and taking initiatives,” describes Adle 
Hernández, Director of Projection and Community Relations at UCAB. 

Santa Inés Health Center is part of Social Park. Under an ambulatory model, it offers for free or at 
very low cost, diagnostic services, laboratory, imaging, rehabilitation and preventive and curative 
medical care in 14 different medical specialties. Advancing ​SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being​, this 
health center serves patients who cannot afford the high costs of private health services due to 
their disadvantaged condition or social exclusion.  

Students and members of the neighboring communities expressed their appreciation for the service 
provided by the health center, as well as its attentive staff, clean facilities and affordable price. 
“Thanks to UCAB, people who live in the social disadvantaged communities can receive high-quality 
health service at very low prices," said Nadia Mardini, member of the Catia Community. 

As a result of the work of Social Park and its collaboration with 160 allied institutions, UCAB has 
carried out 50 programmes and projects aimed at helping socially disadvantaged communities in 
17 parishes in Caracas. The active participation of over 2,600 students under the guidance of these 
institutions directly benefited almost 60,000 people every year.