More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled at the wake of an escalating humanitarian crisis. With its close ties to Venezuela, Spain is the first country where Venezuelans seek asylum in Europe. Regardless of the uncertainty of being allowed to stay or not, Venezuelans embrace the hope of security and stability, and often become hard-working settlers.
Today, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation of Venezuelan migrants has become more complex. Spain has moved past the peak, but there is still a long way to recovery from the impact of COVID-19. The Venezuelan migrant community is strongly hit. Being afraid of losing stability, Venezuelans kept working relentlessly, reinventing themselves, and reaching out to help.
Scared of violence, I fled from Venezuela to Europe 10 years ago. By putting the magnifying glass on my own community, I will portray the experience of this pandemic from a personal place. I will work in the Basque Country, my home and one of the hardest-hit regions.
With Miguel García, a cinematographer with Basque roots, I will blend video, photography, interviews, and a self-produced sync master record with journalism and storytelling. We will create an 8min linear piece, portraying the COVID-19 experience of 19 Venezuelans from various backgrounds.
We wish to raise awareness towards inclusion and diversity, to highlight the value of a well-integrated migrant community, and the important contribution that Venezuelans have brought to Spain in difficult times.