juntosesmejorve

María Rosa Rodríguez: A Venezuelan Migrant Starting a New Life in Peru

April 27, 2021 by juntosesmejorve

María Rosa Rodríguez: A Venezuelan Migrant Starting a New Life in Peru

Maria Rosa arrived in Lima a year and a half ago. She is a 44-year-old Venezuelan migrant woman, with a Master’s Degree in Education Planning and Evaluation and more than 20 years of experience as a teacher.

Like many Venezuelan migrants in the same situation, Maria Rosa had to flee her country in search of a better life. Arriving in Peru not only meant adapting to a new social and cultural environment, but also integrating economically. Also like many Venezuelans, she arrived in a country she had never been before, without local employment references or credit history, facing additional challenges when looking for employment. This is where Loop comes in. Loop is a cleaning service app that was created with a social purpose: to employ Venezuelan migrant women with the aim to facilitate access to economic stability and integration, empowering migrant women in vulnerable situations.

Since joining Loop, not only has Maria Rosa found the opportunity to earn a living, but to be part of a family that encourages continuous learning and builds on the skills of its employees. The Loop team sees Maria Rosa as a very joyful and positive person who doesn't think twice when it comes to participating in Loop’s coaching sessions:

“I love to participate at the coaching sessions. I try to never miss them!”

According to Maria Rosa, what she appreciates the most of these sessions is that she has learned how to deal with stress and anxiety and has found the space to share with others who are in a similar situation. Loop provides personal development sessions to the women as a means to empower them, going above and beyond offering safe, vetted employment opportunities.

This initiative is also designed to be a flexible short-term employment solution for Venezuelan women like Maria Rosa to get back on their feet. Loop provides Venezuelan women with financial literacy to help them build a credit history and learn strategies to start saving. Loop also provides them references and the opportunity to decide their own terms of employment and schedules, encouraging them to pursue educational goals, training or other professional aspirations at the same time.

Thanks to initiatives like Loop, Venezuelan women have been able to find a place in their host communities where they feel valued through their work and skills. Maria Rosa, who describes herself as a responsible and honest person, is excited to share that through the Loop App, she is starting to build a client base and her customers give her glowing reviews for "excellent service."

Learn more about Loop at www.juntosesmejor.org/ourinnovations and www.looplimpieza.com.

If you are in Peru, support the Loop family! Download the app at the App Store or Play Store to schedule a service, and don’t forget to spread the word!

Meet 6 Women Leading Transformative Approaches to Address Venezuela’s Regional Crisis!

March 14, 2021 by juntosesmejorve

Meet 6 Women Leading Transformative Approaches to Address Venezuela’s Regional Crisis!

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The BetterTogether Challenge is proud to fund and scale locally-driven, women-led innovations to support Venezuelans and their host communities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Although 2019 was a record year for business start-ups and innovations led by women, the United Nations warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause a setback. Today more than ever we must continue to promote innovation led by women. This helps us reap the benefits of inclusive innovation that incorporates the perspectives of more than half the world’s population. For example, studies have shown that increasing inclusivity and participation of women in an organization leads to better performance and greater innovative capacity.

In this article, we feature 8 women leading innovations funded by the BetterTogether Challenge.

1) Loop: Claudia Esparza

Founder at Loop and Nanas & Amas

Peruvian, mother, businesswoman. For 11 years, through her company Nanas & Amas, Claudia has connected families and domestic workers to establish happy and lasting relationships. Since the migration of Venezuelans to Peru began, Claudia's company began receiving job applications from many women looking for job opportunities. All were Venezuelan professionals in different careers, but who needed support to start over. However, as they had no previous experience as domestic workers, they could not be hired. As Claudia describes, “The feeling of helplessness of not being able to lend them a hand made us think about designing a new service. And that's how Loop was born— the mobile app that connects thousands of Venezuelan women with dignified job opportunities to clean houses and offices by the hour, in Lima. They are receiving training and constant job opportunities, good weekly income, the power to decide their own work schedules, and are part of a large community of women that walks with them on their path to move forward.”

2) Democracy International: Marlene S. Charles

Project Director for Democracy International in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidadian. Youth Mentor. Activist. Marlene has been involved in working with social issues since her days as a youth mentor in her parish community. A strong believer in volunteerism and advocacy, Marlene has also been at the helm of three key civil society associations in Trinidad.

In Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuelan women are particularly vulnerable to harassment and xenophobia. They often avoid using public services and take extra precautions to share their location with friends and family when they travel.

To address this issue, Marlene and her team at Democracy International (DI) are implementing the WELCOME project, which uses a women-centered approach to address xenophobia and harassment toward Venezuelan women in Trinidad and Tobago. DI has partnered with local stakeholders to implement a series of behavioral science-based interventions aimed at increasing awareness of harassment and xenophobia, encouraging bystanders to speak up against it in public spaces, and creating lasting behavioral change.

“It's actually about women helping women. It is Trini [dadian] women helping other Trini [dadian] women to become allies of Venezuelan women to stop sexual harassment and xenophobic behavior.”

3) Cáritas Brasileira: Cristina Dos Anjos

Migraflix Initiative Coordinator at Cáritas Brasileira

Brazilian. Activist, with the mission to fight against violence against women and racism. The MigraSegura platform aims to support the safe mobility of Venezuelan migrants. By using MigraSegura, migrants can find information on legislation, reception areas, indications of social assistance networks, employment opportunities and more. The platform can be accessed through cell phones, tablets and computers. Cristina explains that "As a black woman, I took on the mission of supporting the struggle of other women to defend their rights against violence and feminicide and the fight against racism. As the MigraSegura initiative coordinator, I look carefully at the reality of women, who are the majority of migrants within Venezuelan displacement."

4) CDI Chile: Marcia Cortez Paredes

Outreach and Communications at CDI Chile

Argentine. A Communications Guru. Marcia is the driving force behind “Aprendo Data”, a data science bootcamp for women. Participants will receive the training and skills to improve their employability, helping to reduce the gender gap in tech. CDI, in alliance with Data Elevates, is training approximately 200 Venezuelan women in data visualization and interpretation. As Marcia notes, “... To achieve a real impact, we will connect them [participants] with job opportunities, through outreach events with the participation of potential employers and entrepreneurship networks. These events will help to connect migrants with a rapidly growing industry, and to show society the advantages of integration.”

5) Salma Mohammaed: Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad and Tobago

Officer at Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad and Tobago (RCSTT)

Trinidadian. Activist. Salma firmly believes that "Everyone deserves to feel safe, to be respected and to have a strong support system. We are here for our Venezuelan sisters and brothers."

In Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuelan migrants often encounter challenges in accessing essential services due to the language barrier and their legal status. This makes it difficult for them to implement healthy decision-making and cope with the stressors of being a migrant in a host country. Therefore, the Rape Crisis Society will establish a toll-free, GBV Bilingual Hotline in Trinidad and Tobago, operated by trained Venezuelans, for Venezuelans and other GBV survivors in the country. The GBV Bilingual Hotline will be supported by a bilingual animated video series geared towards promoting social cohesion amongst Venezuelans and locals. These services will be free to all beneficiaries, including locals, and will seek to foster healthy coping strategies, self-sufficiency and empowerment amongst migrants and locals in T&T.

6) Art For Impact: Nery Santaella

Nery “Nani” Santaella, Co - Founder at Art for Impact

Venezuelan, mother, activist and the star of the series “Laboratorio de Arepas”. Her company, Art for Impact, develops creative solutions to social problems through art and creativity. Her flagship initiative, Voices of Venezuela, is a media project like no other that focuses on problem-solving between Venezuelan migrants and host communities in Colombia. As Nery explains, “We want to build self-sufficiency by providing essential information on integration processes in Colombia and access to services, in a simple, dynamic and accessible way. And second, we want to reduce xenophobia and prevent conflict through the creation of culturally appropriate programs, where we are open to talking about xenophobia in a cordial way; a space where we celebrate the positive aspects of migration in Colombia and, why not, celebrate our culture and shared values.”

Accounts from Venezuela: Innovating for Access to Clean Water

February 14, 2021 by juntosesmejorve

Accounts from Venezuela: Innovating for Access to Clean Water

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Eighty percent of Venezuelans do not have access to clean water, and many can only rely on polluted water sources. Thanks to the work of our innovators, more than 600 families in Venezuela now have a water point of proven quality, less than 30 minutes away from their homes and free of charge.

Our innovators working in Venezuela share the joy of success in providing clean water for vulnerable communities:

“A good part of the beneficiaries consumed unfit water before the implementation of our project. Sometimes they did not have enough money to buy bottled water and they resorted to natural sources or those offered at the houses of friends or neighbors. Even so, it could be verified that these water sources did not meet the sanitary requirements either. The water even developed a bad smell after being stored for days. Sometimes it also brought many sediments of earth, mud and / or sand. After the installation of the plants, all these conditions have improved, in compliance with current sanitary regulations and offering the community the advantage of accessing already treated water that does not require another method to be applied before consuming it.

[The community] has told us about the tranquility that comes with, for example, being able to make bottles for babies knowing that the water will no longer cause health consequences. As well as families are grateful that they have reduced the time and money that before they had to use to obtain water that many times was not even drinkable.

Since the start of the project, more than 600 families now have a water point of proven quality, less than 30 minutes away from their homes and free of charge. Additionally, other families in the area are accessing the water service at a lower cost.”

An account by our innovators working in the Access to Clean Water initiative in Venezuela.

Carlos Miranda: Sowing a Message of Resilience and Solidarity between Young Venezuelans and Colombians

January 8, 2021 by juntosesmejorve

Carlos Miranda: Sowing a Message of Resilience and Solidarity between Young Venezuelans and Colombians

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Carlos is the Child Protection Program Manager for the IRC's "Learning and Thriving Together" project. Credit: IRC

Carlos Miranda is one of millions of Venezuelans who left his country in search of a better life. He now lives in Colombia where he assists Venezuelans and Colombian returnees in vulnerable situations, and has discovered his vocation to help others by creating safe spaces for migrant children and Colombian returnees to interact and develop. In 2020, Carlos joined the International Rescue Committee (IRC) team, where today he serves as the Child Protection Program Manager for the Learning and Thriving Together Project, a grant funded by the BetterTogether Challenge.

A New Start

When Carlos moved to Colombia in 2017, it was his first time leaving his parents' house, as well as his home country of Venezuela. His life had always been in Merida and he was not sure what awaited him in Colombia, but, like millions of Venezuelans, Carlos felt he had to leave because of the difficult situation his country is facing. He did not go very far though, with the hope of returning to his home country under different circumstances always remained.

Carlos chose to settle in Cucuta, a Colombian city on the border with Venezuela, which would become his home for the next few years. As more and more Venezuelans began to arrive in Cucuta, and their situation as migrants became complicated, Carlos made a promise to himself that he would look for ways to support the thousands of migrants who also make the journey to Colombia in vulnerable conditions.

Fulfilling Dreams

Four years later, Carlos has kept that promise. After putting all his efforts into studying and validating his university degree, he began working in the Humanitarian Care of the Pastoral Social Service of the Diocese of Cucuta. He provided direct support to Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees, victims of armed conflict and vulnerable populations. It was there that Carlos began his career with a message of resilience and solidarity for Venezuelans and Colombians.

Carlos has been assisting both Venezuelans and Colombian returnees in vulnerable situations for years now. He has worked in Cucuta, but also in Medellin and Bogota, and has discovered his vocation to help others by creating safe spaces for migrant children and Colombian returnees to interact and develop. "It is essential to create spaces where children can meet and integrate, learn, express their emotions, and feel valued," says Carlos. And that's exactly what he does today at the IRC, one of the BetterTogether Challenge awardees. One of the centers that Carlos manages also provides services to young people "who, despite the difficulties they are going through, always smile and spread their joy; and this serves as motivation to continue with my work," recognizes Carlos.

According to an IRC study, as of 2016, 52% of Venezuelan migrants are under the age of 18. The amount of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 who do not study or work in the short term is 42%. This represents an additional challenge in the effort to fully integrate this demographic group.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) data shows that in 2016, there were approximately 50,000 Venezuelans living in Colombia. Today, this number exceeds 1.7 million. Similarly, while Venezuela had historically been one of the main migratory destinations for Colombians, in 2018 this trend reversed and over 300,000 Colombians returned from Venezuela that year alone.

In their desperate search for food, medicine, shelter and safety, reaching Colombia often involves defying marauders, crossing dangerous roads or floods. In most cases, people have no option but to make this perilous journey on foot. Some migrants walk up to 35 days across mountains and major highways, in extreme cold or hot, and wet conditions.Under these circumstances, the work people like Carlos do is a vital support for Venezuelan migrants who are faced with these difficulties.

Imagen por Maximilian Scheffler / Unsplash

Through his work, Carlos has remained close to Venezuela, just as he always wanted. He also finds a closeness in his interactions with his fellow citizens who make him feel at home, and with whom he uses common expressions and slang used in Venezuela. "I talk with them and in our conversations we throw in 'pana' (friend), 'chamo' (child, young man), and we shout 'naguará!' (expression of admiration of something extraordinary or true); and to my colleagues to whom I explain what is a 'tequeño’ (fried wheat flour dough stuffed with cheese) and a ‘cachapa’ (thin roasted omelet made from ground corn),” Carlos shares with a big smile.

In 2020, Carlos joined the IRC team, where today he serves as the Child Protection Program Manager for the Learning and Thriving Together Project, a grant funded by the BetterTogether Challenge. For Carlos, the Learning and Thriving Together Project means a special opportunity and turned out to be the job he had dreamed for. The people he has met- Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees and host communities- have shown him that their essence as human beings and fraternal peoples, makes being away from his family and the hard work worth the effort.

Written by Alexandra Anda and Diana Vernon, USAID Catalyst Projectat Resonance Global.

Finding a Safe Space: Venezuelan Women Face Harassment and Gender-based Violence as They Seek a New Place to Call Home

September 15, 2020 by juntosesmejorve

Finding a Safe Space: Venezuelan Women Face Harassment and Gender-based Violence as They Seek a New Place to Call Home

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The impact of the Venezuelan crisis continues to expand, disproportionately impacting women across Latin America and the Caribbean. Of the over 5 million Venezuelans who have left their homeland and crossed international borders, at least 40 percent identify as female.

T7N6Y4 Mother and child, Venezuelan refugees in Cucuta, Colombia, 22 October 2018

A Dangerous Journey

Leaving Venezuela is extremely difficult for women. They are vulnerable to forced sex, sexual exploitation, and trafficking along the migration journey. Growing restrictions preventing Venezuelan migrants from entering other countries has led to an increase in the use of irregular migration routes where passage may be through smugglers, only further aggravating this situation for women and children. Migrants are often targeted by groups controlling the “trochas”, or land border crossings, who may demand sex in exchange for passage at these de facto checkpoints.

One example of this is the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, the main border crossing for Venezuelans into Colombia. According to Alvaro Gaitan, the Communications Officer for JuntosEsMejor grantee Safe Schools, “[Y]ou can find many points of that neighbor[hood] where that girls of Venezuela have to suffer sexual exploitation…[It] probably is the hardest thing that they have to face is that point.”

How to Manage the Increase in Migration

According to Claudia Esparza, a software engineer and a JuntosEsMejor grantee LOOP, said of her homeland, Peru, “ [I]n the beginning people felt very empathetic...they were welcomed.”

“Venezuelans have always been here in the country, part of the culture, part of the community," stated Marlene Charles the director of the WELCOME project in Trinidad and Tobago, funded by JuntosEsMejor.

Indeed, migration is not a new phenomenon in Latin America or the Caribbean. While Venezuela had traditionally been a migrant receptor country, this trend started to reverse in the early 2000s. As the economy continued to plunge, in 2014 the number of Venezuelans migrating to neighboring countries increased to worrying levels. By 2018 this trend turned into a mass migration and is now considered the largest external population displacement in the history of the Western Hemisphere. As such, it has strained resources and caused tensions between Venezuelans and their host communities, and there have been some examples of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in host countries.

When mass migration began, attitudes towards these migrants across host countries changed, in part, due to competition for limited resources and services. In countries such as Peru, many began to believe their jobs were being lost to Venezuelans, and according to a 2019 Institute of Peruvian Studies poll, 73 percent of Peruvians are against these migrants coming to Peru. Many employers realized that the Venezuelan population, due to their desperation for work and often undocumented status, could be exploited. “This is not xenophobia because they come from Venezuela, it comes from many things that you can add up together,” said Claudia.

“It started going wrong when the media started putting the spotlight on the bad situation of Venezuelan migrants,” said Claudia. According to her, the media in Peru began focusing on a few violent crimes committed by the migrant population and blaming Venezuelans for violence within Peru. However, studies from 2019 suggest that Venezuelan immigrants commit substantially fewer crimes relative to their share in the overall population in host countries such as Colombia, Chile and Peru; suggesting that public perceptions of Venezuelans as criminals and responsible for increasing communities' insecurity are misleading.

In fact, Venezuelan migrants make important contributions to the local economy and the host country's development. A World Bank case study finds that in Peru, the Venezuelan migrant population is relatively young and well-educated. Forty-two percent of the population is between the ages 18-29, and 57 percent of working-age Venezuelans in Peru went through higher education. The study also finds that if Peru incorporates these migrants into its formal labor market, labor productivity would increase by approximately 3.2 percent.

“In some cases there is xenophobia regardless of their [Venezuelan migrants] presence for a long time. There is still discrimination towards them because they are arriving as refugees and there is xenophobia towards migrants at the border,” said Maria Luisa Cristancho, Interim Grants Coordinator for Safe Schools about Colombia

Demonstrations against the government’s support for Venezuelan migrants began to occur in Trinidad and Tobago. According to Marlene, “[T]he streets became crowded with protesters and then you became aware of how...I'm not sure angry is the word, but there were people that were just not pleased that the government was registering all of these people that they felt had no right being here in the first place.”

While these instances impacted all Venezuelan migrants, cultural stereotypes about Venezuelan women, particularly ones that depict them as ‘hypersexualized,’ exacerbate their struggle to begin a new life. “Men can bunk with whoever. You can just sleep on the floor, whatever. But if you're a woman, and you're here with your own children, then your choices become different. Your choices may become a lot harder or you just may not have choices. And I think that's how women would be more affected,” said Marlene.

The Fear of Street Harassment

These untrue stereotypes often lead to harassment and sometimes abuse of Venezuelan women within their new societies, making many fearful of public spaces and how they may potentially be treated. A 2019 Democracy International study found that Venezuelan women in Trinidad and Tobago are often threatened and harassed in public spaces, including public transportation, supermarkets, and health centers. Due to this, many Venezuelan women avoid using these services, increasing their risks for gender-based violence at home. Marlene has witnessed instances of street harassment against Venezuelan women. Recalling a particular instance when a man from Trinidad targeted a group of Venezuelans, she said, “I wondered, how come nobody else around did or said anything?.. There were other men, there were other people walking around, there were other cars passing, and nobody did anything. And I just remember thinking, it cannot be easy living in a situation where that could have just happened to you.”

Similar situations of harassment have occurred in other countries. According to Claudia “Unfortunately...they are suffering harassment in the streets...Because of machismo...and our society is a really tough place for women, Peruvian society. They suffer harassment in the streets, sometimes at their jobs also...It's really hard for Venezuelan women to live here in Lima.”

But men aren’t the only perpetrators of violence towards Venezuelan women. Claudia said, “One of the ladies that participated in our focus group told us, ‘The day after a Venezuelan murderer appeared in the news, I was selling coffee on the street and a woman saw me and she realized that I was Venezuelan because of my accent and she yelled horrible things at me and she cut my hair.’” Claudia recalls tearing up at the horrible nature of the instance, “I’ve never heard of something like that.”

“[I]t’s so popular in the thinking of...Colombians that the Venezuelan women come to Colombia to work in sexual work. In Bogota you can find a street called Venezuela street. Also in Cucuta and Medellin. So probably the women and girls...they have to face more difficulties than boys or men,” said Alvaro. According to CARE, 48 percent of female Venezuelan migrants in Colombia are at risk of gender based violence.

Finding Hope

While the situation may be dire for many Venezuelan women, WELCOME, Safe Schools, and LOOP, among numerous other JuntosEsMejor grantees in ten countries across the region are testing innovative solutions that either directly address the challenges that Venezuelan women face—both inside Venezuela and in their host communities—or have programs that are inclusive of all genders. WELCOME is building a network of advocates and using innovative behavioral science to stop street harassment at supermarkets, one of the main places where Venezuelan women in Trinidad and Tobago say harassment occurs. Safe Schools is testing an approach in Colombia to combat xenophobia in schools that prioritizes research that looks at how boys and girls experiences are different. LOOP is finding ways to employ women in Peru with temporary positions and is launching a media campaign where Venezuelan women will tell their own stories to reduce xenophobia.

As she thought of the woman who was harassed and had her hair cut, Claudia said, “What amazed me the most was that she told me, ‘It was just my hair, it will grow again and I’m here and I”m willing to participate’...So her resilience was the the thing that, it was amazing, really. Amazing.”

When asked what the WELCOME Project would do, Marlene answered, “It's women helping women, really. It's helping Trini[dadian] women become allies of Venezuelan women to stop the sexual harassment and xenophobic behavior.”

Maria said about the Safe Schools Program, “Through this program teachers and caregivers will be encouraged to reflect upon gender dynamics in the classrooms and the role of boys and girls at home. They will be better equipped to understand and respond to girls’ different feelings and needs. Also, the program aims at promoting peaceful coexistence in schools and developing strategies against xenophobia. This will have a positive impact, especially in girls, as Venezuelan women are associated with negative stereotypes.

Recognizing the unique challenges that migrants face based on gender, USAID, through the JuntosEsMejor/BetterTogether Challenge, launched a specific call for applications to identify, fund and scale home-grown solutions to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) within the Venezuela crisis context. The winners will be announced in the coming months.

Written by: Sandra Coburn, USAID Catalyst Project at Resonance Global.

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Sources:

https://www.unfpa.org/news/fear-and-exhaustion-shadow-venezuelan-women-long-trek-peru

https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1862/ESC%20RDCS%20Public%20Ver.%20UPDATED%206-12-15%20CAR_0.pdf

- https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1862/ESC%20RDCS%20Public%20Ver.%20UPDATED%206-12-15%20CAR_0.pdf

- https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/CARERapidGenderAnalysis_Colombia_May2019.pdf

- http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=1358292319&Country=Trinidad+and+Tobago&topic=Politics

- https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/630343/EPRS_BRI(2018)630343_EN.pdf

- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49156814

- https://www.brookings.edu/research/venezuelan-migration-crime-and-misperceptions-a-review-of-data-from-colombia-peru-and-chile/

“I Want My Country to be the Same Again”

July 14, 2020 by juntosesmejorve

"I Want My Country to be the Same Again."

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Venezuela’s political, humanitarian and economic crisis has driven more than 5 million people to flee the country, the largest external displacement of people in the Western Hemisphere’s history. The situation has led to severe shortages of food, electricity, medicine, water and other basic needs. Despite the circumstances, USAID and the IDB have teamed up to crowdsource breakthrough innovations to address Venezuela’s most pressing problems. Amelia’s story showcases the need to address the disastrous consequences of Venezuela’s economic fallout.

Image Credit: Felipe Schiarolli via Unsplash

Venezuela has been in a deep recession since 2014. The prolonged economic crisis has made it impossible for many families who remain in the country to afford food as Venezuela’s inflation rate reaches an unprecedented 15,000%. As a result, 89% of the population lives below the poverty line. Amelia's family is among them.

As the economy deteriorated, the mother of two was left with a difficult choice to either work or feed her children. "I earned 160,000 bolivares as a teacher and spent 150,000 in bus fares. We could not buy food,” Amelia stated. "We had to put the children to sleep without eating dinner for up to five days in a row —not even with a piece of bread in their stomachs.” Child malnutrition is on the rise in Venezuela and its consequences are clear in a UNICEF report that shows that the under-five mortality rate has increased by half from 2014 to 2017.

Image Credit: Jonathan Mendez via Unsplash

The situation became increasingly difficult for Amelia and her family. The family could not afford the bus fares to send her children to school every day, and with no way to get to school, her son and daughter were forced to stop attending. As a teacher, Amelia had the ability to homeschool her children, so she begged the school administrators to let them take a test that would allow them to pass a grade and advance their education. And they did. But Amelia grew tired as the country's economic difficulties turned even more acute. Their family situation is not uncommon, as UNICEF reports that 1 in 3 Venezuelan children need help accessing food, health, and education.

"I sat down with my husband and I told him that something must be done. What do we do? We do not have passports. If we leave, we can go to Brazil, we can go to Colombia. Those are the only places we can go to," she said. Ten days later, she sold all her possessions and parted for Colombia. She invested in 60 kilograms of meat to resell when in Colombia, but the criminal groups who control the trochas, passing points, demanded for a lot of money to allow her and her family to go through.

"That was the most surprising thing. All along the road, there are checkpoints where armed men are charging to let you go through. They charge a fee in order to allow the cars to pass. If one does not pay, they make everyone get off. They threaten you. Each person must pay something. "

Once in Colombia, Amelia managed to sell and resell goods from other Venezuelans and earn money. She even started crafting artisanal products - mainly jewelry - to sell on the streets. "We got a lot of help. I never thought that the Colombians would be so receptive," she shared.

Image Credit: Sayara International and Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios UNIMINUTO

Amelia wants to stay in Colombia now. Both of her children are attending school and her husband has a job. She admits that they can no longer live in a house as comfortable as the one they owned in Venezuela, but they can eat every day now. "I like Maicao. I feel like I am closer to Venezuela, and you never know, if anything happens, we can easily return to Venezuela. I want my country to be the same again," she said.

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Thank you to our partner Sayara International and Universidad Un Minuto de Dios (UNIMINUTO) for sharing Amelia's story.

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Take part in telling the world about the reality of Venezuelan migrants.