A migrant mechanic caught in a pandemic

Brother Cermeño’s story is one of many migrants who have left Venezuela with the hope of achieving a better quality of life.

Latin America is full of Venezuelans who fled their country in search of salvation, many leave everything and only take some clothes with them. Upon arrival in host countries, migrants have nothing insured and that is what we most admire about them. But their faith and optimism is what drives them to totally change their life. This is what happened with Brother Cermeño and his family.

Despite being in another country, the global pandemic situation, coupled with his immigration status, further affected his stability and he was trapped without being able to develop any income-generating activity. He spent whole days looking for something to do to bring food home, but what he got was only enough for two meals a day and this thanks to the fact that he got some materials to recycle and then be able to sell them. As this was his only sustenance, he began to feel despair and found himself not knowing what to do to satisfy his basic food needs.

Despite the brother’s experience in auto mechanics, he has been unable to get a formal job. However, he does any honest activity to keep bringing food to his house.

The family’s situation was deteriorating, the days were getting more and more difficult. He could not opt ​​for government aid, since he did not have the documents in order and always depended on the charity of others.

 Far from Education

The problem of the Cermeño family is not only about food, the young children of school age had to stop studying. With virtual classes they needed some device to submit their assignments, but this was inaccessible to them.

Now the children only help dad to get what to sell to be able to support himself. Education took a back seat due to the situation of vulnerability experienced by the Cermeño family. However, they try to survive on what little they have.

 All the challenges that the family has had have allowed them to be more united in one purpose and fight to get ahead. The brother on his part, continues looking for a way to feed them and does not rest in his mission.

Food was in short supply

Brother Cermeño wrote to Operation Family Freedom requesting a $ 500 grant to buy some tools that would help him open a small mechanic business in his home. He explained to us that with his knowledge he could repair cars and earn a living.

The amount requested exceeded the contribution offered by Operation Family Freedom, but we let him know that he could enter a waiting list for a few months, in view of the lack of donations or could receive emergency assistance to buy food.

Brother Cermeño felt a great relief when he received this response from Operation Family Freedom as this way he would have to support himself for some time, while he got a job.

He moved us so much by the story of the Cermeño family, because not only did they leave their country leaving everything and making great sacrifices to get to Colombia, but they were now trapped in the middle of the Covid-19 tragedy. Without work, without education and without resources to progress.

This grant served to alleviate them a bit in the midst of so many difficulties. Although it was a small amount, it allowed him to feed his family in times of emergency.

The help was a salvation for them and we know that they will continue to fight to give their children a better future.

Operation Family Freedom solved a basic need in a timely manner and thanks to our donors we can help more Venezuelan families that need to be rescued from neglect and poverty.

 We would have loved to be able to help more and alleviate the suffering that many Venezuelans go through, even when they are outside their country.

 The Cermeño family is just one case of Miles who need humanitarian aid around the world. Venezuelans are in many countries wanting to progress, even those who are still in the country have hope. That is why Operation Family Freedom has become friends with them and we know their needs.