Voices from Venezuela: Hope and resilience in the aftermath of COVID-19

Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia share their experiences in a new postcard display.  

Over 7.7 million people have left Venezuela since the start of the political and economic crisis in 2015, with conditions in the country further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A researcher in the UCL Institute for Global Health has worked with Venezuelan migrants living in Bogotá, Colombia to tell their stories. Postcards were an effective method of undertaking collaborative research with dispersed communities, especially during the pandemic when access was not always possible.

The selection of postcards on display in the North Cloisters gives a snapshot of the diverse experiences faced by the Venezuelan community. They describe the hardships encountered as well as hopes for the future. Some migrants have been able to pursue the dreams that seemed out of reach back in Venezuela. Others have experienced xenophobia which has led to issues finding and keeping work, negatively impacting their health and families. 

One 30-year-old woman from Caracas, Venezuela writes: 

“I had a lot of dreams …. But with the rent, bills, food, and other expenses, it has become difficult for me.”   

Another respondent writes:

“I am optimistic about life, and I know that with effort and hard work I will be able to achieve all of my goals ♥ … “

Many migrants from Venezuela into the Americas remain positive and hopeful for their futures. The postcards attest to their hope and resilience, providing a vital snapshot of the diverse challenges facing them as they settle into new lives in Colombia and beyond.

Please be aware that this display references experiences of sexual assault.

This display was curated by Dr Rebecca Irons, Senior Research Fellow in Humanities and Social Science Institute for Global Health, and comes out of her ongoing research with Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia. You can read more about this research in Rebecca's article below:

• Irons, R. (2024), Postcards Post-Petroleras: Exploring Collaborative Ethnography via Mail from the Venezuelan Diaspora. Bull Lat Am Res. https://doi.org/10.1111/blar.13554

UCL Institute for Global Health would like to thank UCL Fringe and Wellcome Trust for funding this research. You can find out more about the migratory situation by visiting the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V) website.