Venezuelan Diaspora: Stories Of Hope And Resilience

Tears well up as Mayra José Marchán, a former university professor in Venezuela, gives an interview at her home in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Thursday, July 11, 2024. Marchán arrived in South Florida wi

The economic and political turmoil in Venezuela has led to a mass exodus of over 7.7 million Venezuelans since 2014, making it the largest migration in recent Latin American history. Many have settled in countries across the Americas, with Colombia hosting the majority of Venezuelan migrants.

In Colombia, Venezuelans like María Auxiliadora Añez and Ana Isabel Gómez have found new opportunities after leaving their homeland due to safety concerns and economic hardships. Añez now runs a Venezuelan food truck in Bogota, while Gómez operates a wellness center and aids her home country by sending medications from Colombia.

Chile has also become a destination for Venezuelans seeking refuge. Emilia Lizbeth Angulo and Liseth Díaz are among those who left Venezuela due to political persecution and violence. Angulo works as an administrative assistant in Chile and hopes to return to Venezuela when the time is right, while Díaz, who works in the fiber optic industry in Santiago, believes she won't go back as long as the current government remains in power.

Colombia hosts the majority of Venezuelan migrants, with stories of new opportunities.

7.7 million Venezuelans have migrated since 2014, the largest in recent Latin American history.

Chile and Spain have also become destinations for Venezuelans seeking refuge.

Migrants like María Auxiliadora Añez and Ana Isabel Gómez have found success in their new homes.

Many migrants express hopes of returning to Venezuela when conditions improve.

Venezuelans in the United States, like Yuly Macedo and Mayra José Marchán, support opposition efforts.

Despite challenges, migrants remain optimistic about a better future for Venezuela.

Stories reflect the resilience and determination of Venezuelans amidst a nation in crisis.

Migrants engage in various professions and activities to support themselves and their homeland.

In Spain, José Alberto Morán and Jacobo Alonso Sequeiros have built new lives after leaving Venezuela. Morán supports his family back home while working as a tile salesman in Madrid, expressing a desire to return only when Venezuela offers security and stability. Sequeiros, a computer engineer in Spain, remains skeptical about returning permanently unless there are significant changes in his home country.

Yuly Macedo and Mayra José Marchán are among the many Venezuelans who have sought refuge in the United States. Macedo, who now cleans houses in Miami, fled Venezuela due to political persecution and threats, while Marchán, an economist in South Florida, actively supports opposition efforts in Venezuela despite not being able to vote from abroad.

As Venezuelans around the world prepare for the upcoming presidential election, their stories reflect the challenges and hopes of a nation in crisis. Despite the uncertainties, many remain optimistic about a better future for Venezuela and continue to support their homeland in various ways.