Here’s what’s happening in Peru on this World Refugee Day
Since 2017, Peru has offered Venezuelans temporary residency, work permits, and access to state-run healthcare. Peru is now home to an estimated 800,000 Venezuelans, but as immigration has risen, so have fears that migrants lower wages and increase crime. Peru’s government announced this week that everyone entering the country must have a passport and visa. Since the cost of a Venezuelan passport is roughly four times the monthly minimum wage, this amounts to an insurmountable economic barrier to most Venezuelans. Still, many make the journey–legally or otherwise–to escape the economic collapse and starvation that are currently plaguing Venezuelans.
We can’t change the whole world, but we can change Angelo and Zeidi’s
Angelo and Zeidi are millennials like many of us, living in Lima, Peru. But, unlike most of us, they’ve had to face some unimaginable decisions, including fleeing their home country for the benefit of their eighteen month-old son, Samuel.
With the support of Something New, Angelo and Zeidi have found stable housing, a steady income, and the beginning of a new life. Most of Angelo’s family is with them in Lima, but they worry about Zeidi’s family. Her mom is responsible for caring for her own aging mother and the whole family is still in Venezuela without passports. They have talked about leaving as the situation gets worse day by day, but Peru’s new passport rules cause an additional barrier.
To us, it’s personal
In this global humanitarian crisis, Angelo and Zeidi’s family are not nameless and faceless. For us, it’s personal. While Angelo and Zeidi’s circumstances are worlds apart from ours as millennials in the U.S., their dreams for the future are the same. They want to help others too. They are the kind of people who would spend a spring break on a service trip too.
With the small income that Angelo makes as an Uber driver in Lima, they have committed to sending 600 soles (about $120) a month to Zeidi’s family no matter what. That way, the family can eat one meal a day.
We think you might be one of those people
If you are a millenial, I know first-had that you may not have much, but a monthly donation of $5.00 or $10.00 would help buy rice and other food staples. Since you’re here, reading this blog, caring about these people across the world, we think you might also be one of those people who would give up a cup of coffee a month, too.
If so, click HERE to support!
John Gainey
Something New Board Member
