Sofa9a's journey from Venezuela to ColombiaCEFR A2
26 Oct 2025
Adapted from Melissa Vida, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by David Restrepo, Unsplash
Sofa9a and her mother left Venezuela because of a deep economic and social crisis. They crossed into Colombia on January 13, 2021 and went to Saravena, in Arauca, where many migrants live or pass through.
They paid 130,000 pesos per person for a car ride, about USD 33, and later learned the usual fare was about 40,000 pesos (USD 10). The mother worked as a street vendor without formal papers, had fragile health, and in April 2021 she was admitted to intensive care. They received help from kind people but also met discrimination.
Difficult words
- migrate — to move from one place to anothermigrated
- discrimination — treating someone unfairly because of differences
- vendor — a person who sells things
- obstacle — something that prevents progressobstacles
- hardship — a difficult or unpleasant situationhardships
- permit — an official document allowing somethingpermits
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How do you think migration affects families?
- What can communities do to help migrants?
- Why is it important to have permits when working?
- What are some ways to overcome discrimination?
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