Diomar, the Wife
Diomar, a woman we met at the church shelter where we installed water filters over the weekend, worked hard her whole life in the airport’s VIP lounge. Twelve years ago, she met her husband Adelso at the baggage counter. No one ever handed them anything. They built their life together, one paycheck at a time.
They lived in a middle-class apartment on the ground floor of a five-story building. On the day of the earthquake, Diomar was on the bus heading home. She didn’t understand why it was rocking so hard until she watched the world around her collapse. Everything she owns is still in that debris, she says, including her husband. Diomar now lives at the church shelter, spending her days organizing donated clothing for other families who have lost everything.
The Rescue Workers
Upon delivering 100 helmets to the group of Venezuelan rescue workers, they ask us what day it is today, a question we frequently hear by those who haven’t stopped since the moment they arrived.
The magnitude of the event drove them to work alongside the families, teaching them the techniques on how to find survivors. To raise their fist high in the sky, a sign known to create absolute silence. To close their eyes and become one with the surroundings to hear survivors from underneath the debris. Still on Friday, nine days after the disaster, they were able to pull out two people alive, Commandante José Cornieles tells us. A moment, statistically impossible, that gave them the energy to continue. No one is talking about leaving ‘Somos la diferencia entre vida y muerte’ (‘We are the difference between life and death’).
The equipment we gave them – generators, gloves, protective gear – isn’t only used for this disaster, José explains, but will accompany them on future deployments as well. Their work is to serve.
Barbara, The Community Leader
Born and raised in the La Guaira neighborhood, Barbara knows everyone. Fortunate enough not to have suffered any damage to her home, Barbara felt an urgency to help in any way she could. Power was quickly restored in her home, so she put every socket at the disposal of those who were anxiously looking to charge their phones.
When we gave Barbara a Starlink and the necessary equipment to have it in her car, she started driving around to the furthest neighborhoods to allow people to connect and receive news from loved ones. Barbara hasn’t slept since the event, she prays to God to give her the strength to help others today, “If I need to break down, let it be tomorrow.”
Emily, The Child
Emily, 17, suffers from severe scoliosis to the extent that she’s no longer able to go to school unless she gets surgery. When asked about her friends, she says that she didn’t have a particular group that she belonged to, that she was friends with everyone. One can see why when she immediately approached us in English, “with a lot of self-study and a bit of Duolingo,” she said proudly. Loving science and mathematics, it’s her dream to become a software engineer.
With her home destroyed, she and her family sleep in the church, previously on the hard cement floor, but now on a better mattress that offers a little comfort to support her back. As displacement endures, the needs of the survivors evolve, we work alongside them to support with items that ease the suffering.
As search and rescue activities come to an end and the media attention starts to fade, the strength and resilience of the Venezuelan people are once again being tested. They live today, not knowing what tomorrow will look like. Together with our local partner organization, Alimenta la Solidaridad, we continue to support urgent human needs, whilst working on longer-term solutions across shelter, water and education. We will continue to update you along the journey.
With much gratitude,
Nicolette Koeman
Chief Engagement Officer
All Hands & Hearts
Make a Difference
We’re just at the beginning of this response, and the need is growing. Your support allows us to continue showing up by working alongside communities, supporting local efforts, and doing everything we can in the coming weeks to help families recover.
Thank you for your support.
