Carlos

Age: 34 years
Children: 4,living in Venezuela
When did you arrive in Curacao? 5 months
How did you get to Curacao?  By plane
Profession in Venezuela:           Technician in a Paper Factory 

When did you decide to leave Venezuela?
Over a year ago the situation in Venezuela was very tense and from what I earned, I couldn’t even buy food. Then I decided to go to Bogota, Colombia. It’s no secret that it’s very difficultthereas well. I stayed there for seven months and finally decided to go to Curacao.
What’s the most difficult part of being an illegal person?
 Getting a job. It’s been very difficult for me. I’ve never been in prison, but it’s almost as if I were. I cannot even go out, I cannot enjoy Curacao like a tourist, or any citizen here who has papers… and that’s very difficult.
How do you think you can contribute to the future of your country?
By doing my best. I have been working since I was eighteen,and nowI’m thirty-four. We only can help our country trough work and make it a productive countrylike it always used to be.
What would you do when the situation in Venezuela changed?
Well, to improve the situation, as it is, it is difficult to improve outright, whetherwith the current government or not… anyone knows. And actually I would like to live in my country. But since I’m used to being outside, I like to be outside and get to know parts of the world.
Would you add something else?
Yes… I hope that Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire, will change their policy and that they will give us the documents we need to legally live here. We are not bad people and we all want to work. As long as we are non-documented people, we can’t work here like normal people do.We do notwant to take anything from anyone.

The world news on the situation in Venezuela is highlighted from many angles: from the poignant food and medicine shortages to developments at the global geopolitical level. But what is invisible in the reports about numbers, international problems and possible solutions is the true face of those displaced, the many undocumented, and therefore illegal, Venezuelans abroad.
 With this project, “The Hidden Voices of undocumented Venezuelans on Curacao”, we offer a chance for personal experiences to be heard, giving a voice in the media for these men and women, students and professionals, forced to live in the shadows of our society. My hope is that this project can change hearts and inspire support for those displaced and living in hiding by bringing attention to the individual stories from these hidden voices.