Sofa9a's journey from Venezuela to ColombiaCEFR B2
26 Oct 2025
Adapted from Melissa Vida, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by David Restrepo, Unsplash
The story begins with a departure on January 13, 2021, when a mother and her 12-year-old daughter crossed into Colombia and settled in Saravena, Arauca. Their move reflected larger forces: economic collapse, shortages of food and medicine, insecurity, and shrinking job and schooling opportunities in Venezuela. In 2021 about 1.84 million people moved to Colombia, and UNHCR projects that by 2025 as many as 7.9 million people may have left Venezuela seeking protection and a better life.
Upon arrival they paid 130,000 pesos per person (about USD 33) for a car ride across the Arauca River; later they learned the typical fare was around 40,000 pesos (USD 10). The mother worked informally as a street vendor without legal documents. Her health was fragile, the work was poorly paid, and in April 2021 she was admitted to an intensive care unit. They did not have free healthcare access and feared the costs; after many procedures, with only the daughter at her side, the hospital agreed to cover the expenses. They experienced both solidarity from kind people and acts of discrimination.
In 2022 the Temporary Protection Permit opened a path to health services and registration with a Health Promotion Entity (EPS). They completed the paperwork, but only the daughter's application was approved. As the mother's condition worsened, they returned to Venezuela in early 2023. Authorities, civil groups and some Colombians worked on awareness campaigns, human rights advocacy and peaceful coexistence programs, and the family remembers both the help and the hostility they met.
Difficult words
- economic collapse — very large failure of a country's economy
- shortage — not having enough of something neededshortages
- intensive care unit — hospital ward for very sick patients
- fare — money paid for a trip or ride
- informally — in a way without official papers or rules
- solidarity — support and help between people
- discrimination — unfair treatment of people because of who they are
- temporary protection permit — official document giving temporary legal status
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What challenges did the family face after arriving in Colombia, and which of these seem hardest to solve?
- How can documents like a Temporary Protection Permit change the lives of people who move to another country? Give reasons based on the text.
- What roles did different groups (authorities, civil groups, local people) play for this family, and how can communities reduce hostility toward newcomers?
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