Venezuelan families searching for a greater life

more than two million Venezuelans have left their u . s . a . in view that 2014, with the country dealing with energy cuts and shortages in meals, medication and elementary items.

Photographer Glenna Gordon travelled to the border with Colombia with Shop the children, where she met some of the families looking for a better lifestyles.

Migrants cross the border in Cucuta, Colombia Image copyright Glenna Gordon/Save the youngsters

The river that marks the border among Colombia and Venezuela, at Cúcuta, has a prison crossing element and many illegal crossing points. Some are controlled through gangs and petrol and drug traffickers, as the financial struggle escalates other felony activities.

School kids and others disembark from small canoes Symbol copyright Glenna Gordon/Shop the youngsters

Many schoolchildren use canoes to move the border at Arauca every day.

The emergency room in Maicao, Colombia Image copyright Glenna Gordon/Retailer the children

In an emergency room in Maicao, Colombia, so much of the migrants in search of healthcare are mothers with young children.

Stephanie, Diego and others sit and chat outside their front gate Image copyright Glenna Gordon/Store the children Diego cuddles his Grandma on a Winnie the Pooh blanket on the floor Symbol copyright Glenna Gordon/Store the children

Diego has epileptic seizures – but because it is not an emergency, he’s unable to access hospital treatment. he’s taken care of via his grandmother, Stephanie. She has now not been capable of get involved with her kids or other grandchildren and does not realize the place they’re.

“The paintings is hard – i’ve to stroll a protracted approach on a daily basis and most days i can’t have the funds for to devour dinner, so we just go to mattress,” says Stephanie.

“we are now living in a room with another families and i am selling items from a trolley every day on the Migrant Centre. This also implies that Diego can visit the kid Friendly Area every day.”

“My biggest wish for him is that sooner or later he can get the medical care he wishes and be in a position to take a look at correctly.”

Sofia ties her hair back Symbol copyright Glenna Gordon/Keep the youngsters

Sofia and her family moved into her sister’s hut, where there are actually 8 of them staying in a single room, including a seven-month-old. Her mom’s brother will quickly be shifting in together with his circle of relatives after which there will be nearly 20 other folks sharing rooms.

“My desire is that one day we can have house, perhaps even land. i am hoping to have a job and for my kids to have a greater long run,” says Sofia.

Gael and Olivia carry their belongings back to their shelter Symbol copyright Glenna Gordon/Save the youngsters

A Few Of the tough sleepers close to Gael and Olivia’s house have drug addictions and it can be dangerous. They and their 4 children started napping at the riverbank nevertheless it used to be very tough and after six months they attempted to return to Venezuela. after they returned to their house, they discovered that everything had been stolen and so they returned to Colombia.

Elena with her 4 children Symbol copyright Glenna Gordon/Keep the children

Elena is a mother of four kids. She gave birth to Bianca after arriving in Colombia.

“When I gave beginning to her I needed to wait a really long time to be observed as a result of i am Venezuelan and they attend to Colombian people first,” she says. “I gave birth stood up as I hadn’t been seen to and the newborn had a broken arm on account of this.”

“It cost us 600,000 pesos (£A HUNDRED AND FIFTY) to pay for the operation she needed to fix her arm but we won’t have the funds for the treatment she now needs.”

Isobel sits and waits for her husband on the roadside whilst holding her baby. Image copyright Glenna Gordon/Keep the kids

Isobel is a certified teacher however had to depart Venezuela because of lack of paintings.

She and her husband, David, introduced their one-12 months-antique son, Samuel, with them but they had to go away their ELEVEN-year-antique daughter at the back of with family in order that she may visit school. Isobel is on her strategy to join family in southern Colombia and her adventure will take 30 hours in overall however she has been promised a task once there.

She hopes that quickly her daughter can be in a position to join them.

Children play in the river at the border of Columbia and Venezuela Symbol copyright Glenna Gordon/Save the children

Photographs via Glenna Gordon / Keep the children

Names were changed to give protection to their id.

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