Venezuela is a country in Northern South America, next to Colombia and Guyana who has been having some big issues since president Nicolás Maduro assumed the presidency. Venezuela is rich in oil and has a lot of potentials, but in the past years the presidents have not been taking advantage of how great Venezuela can be and they are taking all the wealth of the country for them. Although Maduro is in charge now, former president Hugo Chávez is also at fault here since they have been stealing from the country’s wealth for their own purposes, not caring what the people wanted, or needed. Venezuela is hitting an all-time-low due to its hyperinflation, making people flee the country looking for help in neighboring countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, among others. Señora Sandel is a Spanish teacher who moved from Venezuela to the United States 15 years ago. “The desperation for survival is so grave that, if I were in the same situation I would flee to the first place available,” says Señora when asked what she would do if she were still in Venezuela. More than 2.3 million people, 7% of its population, have fled. Because people are fleeing and Venezuela is about to start its school year, classrooms will have no teachers since people are fleeing, which probably will have a negative effect on education and how the kids will have the lessons taught to them. Many Latin American countries are letting the Venezolanos in even if they do not have a passport or an ID to show. What governments are doing now is that instead of excluding them and see them as “refugees” they are including them into their societies so they feel more at home and feel like they have a place and so people do not exclude them. Latin America, in general, has advanced laws when it comes to refugees and immigrants, so this is not a problem for them. Although many countries are welcoming them, some of them are starting to make laws so not everyone gets in without a passport. Peru is going to change the law and now the Venezuelans that want to go in will NEED a passport unlike before. This is making more and more people immigrate while they have the chance to get in to escape Maduro’s strict rules and laws. But what happens to those who do not have the opportunity to leave? Those who stay are facing empty shelves at the stores, no doctors or hospital treatment, no medicines, power cuts, and lack of running water. Because food is scarce in the country, many children are facing malnourishment, which is at the highest level ever in the history of Venezuela. Señora also shares how she is worried about the family she has left in the country, and how she “asks God to protect them” in the situation that is going on in the country and from any harm.

Due to this hyperinflation, prices are doubling every 26 days, making it difficult for them to afford basic necessities such as food and toiletries. To “fix” the hyperinflation, Maduro brought in what is called the “sovereign bolivar”, which is a bill with five zeros added that left the people of Venezuela confused due to the fact that they did not know how to work the money either. Not only that, but they did not make enough for everyone and this is only a temporary solution to a problem they need to start fixing soon because if not the hyperinflation will keep going and this new “sovereign bolivar” will soon turn into the old currency. Señora thinks that this idea is “absurd”. They now have an electronic bill they can use, but again it is confusing and that does not help them since the prices are still high no matter what they do to the bills. The minimum salary in Venezuela is that of $1.00  “that means that Lays chips from the vending machine from the school is the same as salary in Venezuela” Señora ads. The sad and awful situation that Venezuela is going through right now will not stop unless the government decides to stop messing around and actually start helping and caring for the people living there and for the country itself. Venezuela is not at its full potential yet, but that can be changed if people in charge start assuming responsibility and start helping the country.