Venezuela may be 1,600 miles away, but for many students, the current struggle in this conflict-stricken country hits home.
For the past month, what started out as a peaceful protest led by the country’s youth against its president, Nicolas Maduro, has turned into social unrest, destruction and violence. While the world closely watches in hopes of an amicable resolution, NSU students from Venezuela can’t help but worry about their families and friends who are worried about their personal safety and what the future holds for the country they call home.
Vanessa Duboulay, sophomore political science major, said that it has been hard to focus on school and extracurricular activities because she has been worried about everything going on in her country.
“I have been so worried about Venezuela,” Duboulay said. “I know my family and friends are on the street protesting while the national guards and other government forces are prosecuting and shooting everyone without compassion. I have been attached to the media and most of the time, it’s the only thing that goes through my mind.”
On Feb. 12, things in Venezuela took a turn for the worst when reports of three student deaths made global news. Since then, violence between protesters, police and pro-government forces has created a spike in the country’s violent crime rate and led to 13 deaths, including those of young students, the brother of a ruling leader and a former beauty queen.
Even though the situation had become progressively more dangerous with all the military involvement and destruction, to many Venezuelans, the risk of staying quiet is greater than protesting and trying to make a difference.
Carla Magno, junior international studies major, said that Venezuelans need to keep going until they get what they want because, in order for change to occur, it is now or never.
“We are tired of being kept in silence. The government took so much away from us that they ended up also taking away our fear. We have gotten this far. We have gotten good national attention, and now it’s time to fight and raise awareness,” said Magno.
As the conflict continues, the Venezuelan government has gone to extreme measures to block news coverage from their own people. This includes demanding the expulsion of news outlets, like CNN, from the country.
Now, people all over the world have adopted social media as the primary source of keeping the citizens of Venezuela connected to their families and informed about what is going on in their own country.
Gabriela Orta, sophomore biology major, said that because the government is in control of the media, they are preventing the world from finding out about the human right violations being committed.
Orta said, “Every piece of information, no matter how small, that goes into our hands has to be shared. That way the world will find out the injustice that is going on and the innocent blood that is being shed.”
Here at NSU, Magno has been using social media to create a Venezuelan picture campaign in hopes of raising awareness and educating people on what is going on in her country.
If you share a picture on social media, others see it and are tempted to look up what is going and learn more about it,” said Magno.
For the campaign, Magno has been going around campus taking pictures of students holding a poster with their name, nationality and the words “praying for Venezuela” written on it. She then shares these pictures on social media demonstrating the support that the NSU community has for the people of Venezuela.
Magno said, “I just want to raise awareness. We need to show the people back home that they have our support, even if it’s only through sharing a picture that says ‘praying for Venezuela.’”
The important thing to do is to stay informed and educated on the progressive state of this country. The future of Venezuela may seem bleak now but hope is not lost.
“I want to see this violence and unnecessary repression come to an end. Years from now, I really hope to be able to live in my country without fear and to see progress being made with all the unbelievable resources that the country possess,” said Duboulay.
