COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: VENEZUELA
AGE: 32
CHILDREN: A 5-YEAR-OLD IN VENEZUELA
ORIGINAL OCCUPATION: MANICURIST
TIME ON THE ISLAND: 4 YEARS

STORY: No one expected this pandemic, but it has affected me very much. Back in 2016, a friend invited me to come to Curaçao on vacation. In the beginning it was difficult, because I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t have any ideas about life here on the island before I came, because the plan was just to spend a vacation here and go back, but then I decided to stay. At first, I couldn’t find any work and my own savings were not going to support me forever. It took some time before I got some clients, but it eventually started working out and I was able to rent my own room.

I knew about the clinic, Salú Pa Tur through other people from Venezuela so I applied for the food packages from the beginning of the lockdown. I live alone and these packages have helped me immensely. I haven’t needed much help with anything, except for food. I don’t have any family here, so the food packages have made a huge difference for me.

For the near future I see myself with a permit and still living here on the island, but with my son with me. That’s my dream and my goal. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are, I want to be able to have my son here.

My message is that most of us are honest people and we would just like the opportunity to contribute to society like any other person. We’re not all criminals.