Since 2016, more than one million Venezuelans have arrived in Colombia. 44% of whom are women. Loyal to their bold and courageous spirit, these women have embarked on an unknown journey.
Martha, one of many women who left their home behind in 2016, reached Cali, Colombia looking for a better life for herself and her family. Martha is 43 years old and married with two children ages 12 and 10.
“The only things we brought with us were some clothes and thousands of expectations and illusions. Our lives as we once knew them stayed behind…”
“It took us six months to plan our exit from Venezuela. Where would we go? What documents did we need? What would we do with our belongings? The Consul of Colombia in Venezuela was made aware of our case and on December 21, 2016, they advised us to leave Venezuela immediately because the border between the two countries was closing. The news hit us like a bucket of cold water. Although we were planning to leave Venezuela, we didn’t know it would happen in this way.”
“I was shocked. It’s very different to want to leave than to be forced to leave. It was traumatic. It was also Christmas and we had planned to spend the holiday with family. I’ll never forget my mother’s face. Her disillusion and sadness. We both felt as though our souls were being ripped from us.”
The impact of migration can cause psychosocial challenges, mental health issues, drug abuse, alcoholism, and heightened exposure to violence. In response, the international community has increased humanitarian aid to alleviate the grave effects of the crisis. However, psychosocial services remain difficult to access.
“In Venezuela, women [like me] are fighting to protect their children’s futures because their rights come before our own. We are striving to preserve the livelihood of our families. The situation is one of life or death. We women are fighters; we make decisions; we say ‘let’s go and let’s see what the world has in store for us.’”
“Migration can severely affect a person’s mental health. Because of xenophobia, we experienced abrupt behavioral changes. We were forced to leave behind all of our belongings; the children had to leave their friends, their school, and their grandmother. And while our children might have their parents by their side, they have lost everything else they know. To understand this, you must live it, and I do not wish that on anyone”
“If the situation in Venezuela changed, I wouldn’t think twice about returning.”
Latin America has never experienced an exodus of this magnitude. Because of the crisis, Venezuela has lost more than 3 million citizens. Many of the Venezuelan migrants arriving in Colombia have permanent jobs; despite this, many wish to return home someday.
“We decided to leave Venezuela because of the socioeconomic and political crises. My husband and I both suffer from chronic diseases; he has heart issues and I have diabetes. In Venezuela, we had no access to medicine. Not only was it impossible to find insulin, but also food. We decided we must leave if we wanted to survive. Despite all this, I miss Venezuela—my house, the holidays, my students, and my mother. Everything I once thought insignificant has become important. If the situation in Venezuela changed, I woudn’t think twice about returning.”
“The hardest part about living in Colombia is starting from scratch in a new country, being apart from my family, and seeing my husband struggle to find employment. The salary I’m receiving isn’t enough to support myself and my family. Sometimes we can’t even afford the basics, so we’re solely focused on surviving. We’re starting from zero, and it’s a lot of work.”
How are we responding?
All migrants deserve a safe space to recuperate, build up their skills, and resume contributing to society. Two years after fleeing Venezuela, Martha found support.
Through support from USAID, HAI and MAS Colombia are able to provide mental health and psychosocial services to Venezuelan migrants and their families.
“The psychosocial sessions have helped me preserve my mental and emotional health. The sessions allow me to express myself in a judgement free zone and receive the appropriate care and attention I need. I hope no one has to go through this suffering. I hope the crisis in Venezuela ends, so that no one else will have to live through this.”
“My biggest wish is to return to my home with my family.”
The work of Heartland Alliance International in Colombia is possible thanks to the support of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
Gift of the United States Government
