Migración venezolana contada 1.700 a puño y letra
¡Compro cabello! Una temblorosa muchacha venezolana, casi una adolescente, se acerca al intermediario y negocia la venta de su hermosa cabellera por 50.000 pesos colombianos (unos 13 dólares). Acaba de cruzar, acompañada por su madre enferma con la esperanza de encontrar tratamiento a este lado de la frontera, para luego seguir la ruta hacia el interior de Colombia, dejando un pedazo de su vida y su linda melena atrás.
Como si tuvieran en sus manos un libro sagrado
Douglas Lyon es un epidemiólogo estadounidense que cree en el poder transformador y sanador de la literatura testimonial. Después de trabajar en Misiones Humanitarias en África, viajó a Colombia. Allí, en 2018, vio a miles de personas migrando de Venezuela a pie. La imagen de los caminantes lo conmovió y se dispuso a ayudarlos. Se le ocurrió ofrecerles papel y lápiz para que, con su puño y letra, narraran su propia historia
Quarterly Report: Analysis of Testimonies of Venezuelan Caminantes/Refugees August through October 2021; Norte de Santander, Colombia
TodoSomos in Action
TodoSomos Reunion video 2
TodoSomos Podcast
TodoSomos Podcast #1
¿Qué Pasa Venezuela?
As a United States-based non-governmental organization (NGO) registered in Colombia, TodoSomos will, through the collection of first person handwritten testimonials by Venezuelan refugees, create an archive of individuals’ and families’ stories in this crisis – the exodus and their experience as part of the Venezuelan diáspora.
The TodoSomos archive will be available to everyone – journalists, aid agencies, donors, researchers, government and United Nations officials, and the general public. On a periodic basis TodoSomos will select, transcribe and translate a selection of the writings that reflect the greater body of work. These selections will be published in bilingual books which will be distributed in print form throughout the Americas and in a digital format online.
Together with population based data, this will shine light on the Venezuelan crisis in a way that will better engage the attention of the global community and in turn help to insure the needs and voice of ordinary Venezuelans are heard and that they are louder than politicians and powerful special interests. It is our goal to make these voices part of Venezuela’s – indeed, the world’s – historical record.
Our methodology will ensure that those that choose to write will understand our respect for anonymity, the value of handwritten testimony, and the greater purpose of our work in advocacy and creation of a permanent archive.
This work is important. As of October 2019 the UN estimates that more than 4.5 million Venezuelans have left their country. The majority have crossed on foot through a high Andean mountain pass (3,900m) near Cucuta in Colombia. Today more than 10,000 Venezuelans make this crossing each month.
As a United States-based non-governmental organization (NGO) registered in Colombia, TodoSomos will, through the collection of first person handwritten testimonials by Venezuelan refugees, create an archive of individuals’ and families’ stories in this crisis – the exodus and their experience as part of the Venezuelan diáspora.
The TodoSomos archive will be available to everyone – journalists, aid agencies, donors, researchers, government and United Nations officials, and the general public. On a periodic basis TodoSomos will select, transcribe and translate a selection of the writings that reflect the greater body of work. These selections will be published in bilingual books which will be distributed in print form throughout the Americas and in a digital format online.
Together with population based data, this will shine light on the Venezuelan crisis in a way that will better engage the attention of the global community and in turn help to insure the needs and voice of ordinary Venezuelans are heard and that they are louder than politicians and powerful special interests. It is our goal to make these voices part of Venezuela’s – indeed, the world’s – historical record.
Our methodology will ensure that those that choose to write will understand our respect for anonymity, the value of handwritten testimony, and the greater purpose of our work in advocacy and creation of a permanent archive.
This work is important. As of October 2019 the UN estimates that more than 4.5 million Venezuelans have left their country. The majority have crossed on foot through a high Andean mountain pass (3,900m) near Cucuta in Colombia. Today more than 10,000 Venezuelans make this crossing each month.
Observations of the story collectors
We began our first book in a refugio in Pamplona
There, night after night
we were touched by your thoughtful silence as we ask for your help
We have seen you moved by your written words
We have seen … you,
we have seen them …. your words,
when you look us in the eye
and taking our hand in a firm grip, you declare…
‘Thank You… someone has to know, someone must listen, must hear our story …’