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More than 3 million people have fled Venezuela since 2014—about 10 percent of the country’s population.
Thousands continue to flee every day. Why? In a word, desperation. Inflation is out of control, families are going hungry, and medicine is hard to find.
In response to this crisis, Colombia has opened its borders and now hosts more than 2 million Venezuelans. That’s where we first heard Neidis’s story.
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Neidis arrived in Armenia, Colombia, with her husband, 16-year-old daughter, and 4-year-old son in December 2017. They had just $16 in their pockets.
The first week the family settled into their new city, Neidis sent out dozens of résumés. She hoped her former job as an agricultural engineer would help her find a new job. But after continuing to hear she was overqualified, Neidis decided to remove her education and 14 years of experience from her résumé.
Neidis was desperate. Her husband suffers from chronic pain in his hands and can’t work. Unable to give up, she finally managed to land jobs as a store clerk and domestic worker.
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One day while she was paying her rent, Neidis was invited to visit the Alliance El Encuentro de Vida church. Neidis, who had come to know Jesus when she was a child, decided to go. At church she was welcomed, loved, and invited to attend an event for Venezuelans sponsored by another Alliance church in her city.
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Upon arriving, Neidis, her family and friends, and nearly 400 other Venezuelans were surprised to see all that was available to them: medical, dental, and chiropractic care; counseling, eye exams, legal advice; and even haircuts.
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More than 150 qualified volunteers from various churches across the city joined together to provide these professional services. Neidis was able to have her vision checked and received a free pair of glasses. There were also programs available for children and teens, and families received clothing, medicine, and dinner.
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Can you imagine what a relief this was for a woman carrying the full weight of her family’s needs?
The Colombian Alliance wants to continue supporting refugees like Neidis. Will you consider joining them?
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Your gifts will help support hundreds of displaced Venezuelans living in the city of Armenia. Many families are living together in a cluster of apartment buildings, just getting by day-to-day. You can help sponsor more events like the one Neidis and her family attended as well as provide food, shelter, and job training.
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Some predict nearly 4 million Venezuelans will reside in Colombia by 2021. Through your gifts, we can partner with the local church to give hope and practical help to Venezuelan families.
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Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
 CAMA, through the Alliance, is a registered non-profit in the State of Colorado and is an exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
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