Seven years ago, Eriana left Venezuela to seek a better future in Ecuador. She left her three daughters, Maria Cristina, Kelianny and Eriannys with their grandmother while she looked for stability. Four years later, she returned to take her daughters with her to Ecuador. Unfortunately, however, in all that time, her daughters had been unable to enrol in school.
Chasing dreams across borders
Eriana recalls that the journey with her daughters was long and arduous. When they crossed the border between Venezuela and Colombia, they were robbed and were left with only the clothes they wore. Their only options were to walk, and sleep on the streets or in shelters.
Three weeks after starting their journey, they arrived in the capital of Colombia, Bogota. There, a stranger helped them and paid for their bus tickets from the city to the border between Colombia and Ecuador.
Eriana recalls that the journey with her daughters was long and arduous. When they crossed the border between Venezuela and Colombia, they were robbed and were left with only the clothes they wore. Their only options were to walk, and sleep on the streets or in shelters.
Three weeks after starting their journey, they arrived in the capital of Colombia, Bogota. There, a stranger helped them and paid for their bus tickets from the city to the border between Colombia and Ecuador.
It is important to me that my girls study and have a futureEriana, 35
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 7.7 million people have now left Venezuela in search of protection and better opportunities. The majority – more than 6.5 million people – are being hosted by Latin American and Caribbean countries. Ecuador is home to about 500,000 Venezuelans.
Starting from scratch in Ecuador
“It is important to me that my girls study and have a future,” says Eriana. Two years after arriving in Ecuador with her daughters, Eriana enrolled them in school. But their four-year pause in learning made it difficult for them to catch up with their peers.
For this reason, Eriana enrolled her daughters in school activities run by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). In these classes, which are supported by the United States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, the girls build up their linguistic and arithmetic skills and meet students from refugee, migrant, and host community families.
In addition, Maria Cristina and Kelianny received school kits with notebooks, pencils, colouring pens, and other materials to enable them to continue their studies.
Writing as therapy
What Maria Cristina likes the most is reading and writing. She says that when she writes, she relaxes because it helps her to concentrate. She likes to write songs together with her sister, Kelianny.
In one of their classes, they wrote the following song:
I want, I can, I am great, I am strong, I am very intelligent.
I want, I can, I deserve it.
This is who I am, and I am going to embrace it,
I have many dreams and I am going to achieve them,
I want to be happy, and I am going to accomplish it.
This is who I am, and I am going to embrace it,
I have a heart and I have to take care of it.
Learning and wellbeing
In the school learning support classes, Maria Cristina and Kelianny also learn about socio-emotional skills.
"The stress or confusion that refugee and migrant children may experience complicates their ability to adapt because there are so many changes in their environment,” says Michelle, NRC’s education community mobiliser who delivers learning support classes in Quito, Ecuador.
“That's why in our spaces, we teach them skills so they can manage their emotions, promoting their wellbeing while engaging with other students. So they can feel part of their host community and help their integration.”
I imagine myself barefoot in the parkKellianny, 11
Kelianny enjoys the relaxation techniques that are part of the classes.
“The exercise that makes me feel better is closing my eyes, breathing and imagining moments of happiness,” she says with a smile. “When I do that exercise, I imagine myself barefoot in the park, listening to the wind with my uncle, Endry, who is in Venezuela.”
Integration with rights
Eriana and her daughters received support to obtain legal documentation in Ecuador. “Having our documents is an opportunity to achieve more of our dreams,” says Eraina.
While the girls dream of finishing their studies and building careers, Eriana aims to have her own cosmetics and manicure business, as she did in Venezuela.
Supporting her daughters to continue their education is her main priority.
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