The situation in Venezuela is devastating, how can I help?
First of all, thank you for seeking to help. There are as many ways to help as there are issues in Venezuela, and Hearts On Venezuela is here to help you navigate how best to be in solidarity with Venezuelans on the ground. However, here are some guidelines:
Donate
You can donate to responsible organizations we will be highlighting which attend people in need. Organizations like Prepara Familia and Acción Solidaria are providing humanitarian aid to people in need on a daily basis. However, there are also numerous human rights organizations which are doing the structural work to transform the country’s political and social status quo which need monetary support, such as the effort to build the first LGBTQ+ Center in Venezuela or the human rights organizations to generate electricity, a service the State no longer fully provides.
Volunteer
Volunteer with Hearts On Venezuela! We are constantly recruiting more volunteers to participate in the translation and promotion of organizations and civil society efforts in Venezuela. Our team includes translators, designers, writers, human rights defenders, fundraisers, and more. Please visit our “Volunteer” section to participate!
Listen to Venezuelans
It is important to have adequate and correct information if we are truly to help each other out. For this, it is essential to #AskAVenezuelan and become familiar with the country’s situation before sharing information which may not be accurate, even if you have good intentions in doing so. That is why we are translating text written by Venezuelans, so you and your community can be better informed and have direct contact with the people who are truly living through the multiple crises we are facing. Please share and ask your friends, family, and colleagues to follow our site and social media!
Support Democratization and Humanitarian Assistance
It is no secret that Venezuela is suffering under a brutal dictatorship that has plunged the country into a Complex Humanitarian Emergency. We require both humanitarian assistance as well as a political transition to have a government which is truly interested in solving Venezuelans problems. The international community has an incredibly important role in facilitating the process of holding free and fair elections along with a holistic humanitarian response to the emergency. We do require diplomatic efforts and international cooperation of States throughout the world to put an end to the dictatorship and the humanitarian emergency and any visible sign of political support from each country’s population makes a difference.
Who is Hearts On Venezuela?
Hearts On Venezuela is an initiative of three renowned Venezuelan human rights organizations: Provea, Civilis Derechos Humanos, and Codhez. Each of these organizations has had a key role in promoting the human rights movement and strengthening Venezuelan civil society. We are constantly working with organizations, victims of human rights violations, community leaders, activists, academics, journalists, and others who are working to promote dignity, justice, and freedom in Venezuela.
Why translate to English?
Venezuelans live through difficult situations on a daily basis and face severe limitations in the access to information due to censorship and ecomomic limitations. We go through an enormous effort into writing articles, statements, analysis and other text to highlight what is happening. We want to honor that effort and have the largest amount of people have access to this incredible work. To bring people throughout the world closer to Venezuela, and facilitate solidarity between each other. Additionally, as the international community becomes increasingly involved in the Venezuelan crisis, it becomes imperative for people to have direct access to information and testimonies on what is happening in the country. As one of the most universally spoken languages, we find that English is the right language to begin providing that increased access.
What are your politics?
Our politics are the defense and promotion of human rights, democratization of Venezuelan politics, and humanitarian assistance for Venezuelans in need throughout the world. Authors we will translate will come from a diversity of backgrounds and political tendencies, reflecting the dialogues and discussions happening on the ground.