I recently had the opportunity to visit Cúcuta, the border city between Colombia and Venezuela. There, I had the chance to witness firsthand the plight of Venezuelan migrants walking thousands of miles searching for better living conditions. They are the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries : their struggles don’t cease, they only get worse.
Our strategic alliance with Fundacion Venezolanos en Cúcuta (FUNVECUC), which was recently made official, is a pivotal step to expand our response in the region. FUNVECUC’s tactical location is just 400 meters away from the main transit point for migrants: the Simon Bolivar International bridge, ensuring we can provide food and comprehensive services to migrants, including HIV prevention, education and treatment.
Our experience has proven to be successful in providing innovative solutions and responding to complex situations. Now, thanks to our stronger presence in the region, we will be able to improve the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands refugees and migrants in Colombia. In cooperation with UN Agencies and other organizations, our goal is to continue pushing for a change in the global agenda, increasing the focus and support to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
For me, this year has reminded us of a basic principle in life: to adapt and overcome. We continue expanding our projects in Dominican Republic, Peru, Panama and NYC; and hope that the heightened sense of social responsibility that has arisen this year continues accompanying us throughout the year to come. Thank you all for being a part of this life-changing organization!
Best,
