At 22, Michell has already lived in four countries. Displaced as a child, he has travelled far and wide in search of a better life for himself and his family. He now carries an immense burden: providing for his two brothers, daughter, and wife, often without the means to guarantee daily meals.
“A father to my brothers”: Michell’s quest for a better life
Michell's life is a stark reflection of the crisis faced by thousands of refugees and migrants throughout the region, who are compelled to leave their homes due to violence, rights abuses, poverty, and a desperate lack of opportunities.
"Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by despair. It's like I must bottle up all my feelings, and I'm left with this constant ringing in my head," he explains.
While in early 2025 the number of refugees and migrants crossing the treacherous Darien Gap, connecting, South America to Central America has decreased significantly, Michelle's story is an urgent reminder to the authorities in Panama and Colombia, but also in the entire region that the need for robust humanitarian assistance and protection remains vital.
Discover Michell's journey.
A difficult decision
In his South American homeland, Michell's childhood was abruptly cut short. At 12, he left school to work, driven by his mother's cancer diagnosis and the constant struggle for food. “That's what forced me to migrate,” he explains.
At only 15, Michell moved to Colombia because of his family's dire situation. There he hoped to find work to help his brothers and buy essential medicine for his mother.
His journey since then has been a continuous search for safety and better opportunities throughout different Latin American nations.
Michell's life is a stark reflection of the crisis faced by thousands of refugees and migrants throughout the region, who are compelled to leave their homes due to violence, rights abuses, poverty, and a desperate lack of opportunities.
"Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by despair. It's like I must bottle up all my feelings, and I'm left with this constant ringing in my head," he explains.
While in early 2025 the number of refugees and migrants crossing the treacherous Darien Gap, connecting, South America to Central America has decreased significantly, Michelle's story is an urgent reminder to the authorities in Panama and Colombia, but also in the entire region that the need for robust humanitarian assistance and protection remains vital.
Discover Michell's journey.
A difficult decision
In his South American homeland, Michell's childhood was abruptly cut short. At 12, he left school to work, driven by his mother's cancer diagnosis and the constant struggle for food. “That's what forced me to migrate,” he explains.
At only 15, Michell moved to Colombia because of his family's dire situation. There he hoped to find work to help his brothers and buy essential medicine for his mother.
His journey since then has been a continuous search for safety and better opportunities throughout different Latin American nations.
The struggle for survival
Michell has developed a remarkable range of skills, from singing and cooking to farming and barbering, all to earn money to support his family.
Throughout his journey across several South American countries, these skills have been essential for his survival.
Years of travel on foot, hitchhiking, and enduring poverty marked his journey through these countries. He sought a place to settle, study and forge a better future, but as he says, “I still haven't found it”.
In Colombia, the first country he passed through, Michell met Stefanny. They fell in love and decided to continue south together.
As they tried to cross into Ecuador during the Covid-19 pandemic, the border closure took them by surprise. Crossing through an informal route, they were robbed of their few possessions, and Stefanny, pregnant, was injured during their desperate escape. But they were determined to continue their journey in search of security and economic opportunities.
The day everything changed
Michell and Stefanny found work and a temporary home in Peru, but their future prospects remained uncertain. Then, Michell learnt of his mother's deteriorating health. So, they turned around and began the arduous journey back to their own country.
My dream is to save money and buy a houseMichell
They crossed from Peru into Ecuador, then on to Colombia. While crossing Colombia, their daughter was born. Sadly, Michell’s mother died shortly afterwards, leaving him without a chance to say goodbye.
Despite the sorrowful news, Michell found a measure of peace in knowing he had supported his mother's medication until her final day.
"That day, everything changed," Michell recalls.
He knew he had no choice but to assume the role of father to his two brothers, both under ten and previously under his mother’s sole care. From that moment forward, Michell's sole focus became finding a place where he and his family could settle and forge a better future.
And so the family, now five-strong, resumed their journey once again – a journey that was fraught with hardship.
Danger on the road
“We initially went to Peru with my brothers. Ecuador was too dangerous due to violence, and we were robbed in Colombia. In Peru, I faced discrimination because of my nationality, but we did manage to find work” says Michell.
“My dream is to save money and buy a house, but in Latin America, you can't do that because you can only afford to survive.”
Despite attempts to integrate in various South American countries, Michell felt the growing weight of family responsibility, compelling him to seek a different solution.
It was then that Michell decided to travel north, into Panama and Central America.
“I saw a documentary about crossing the Darién jungle, and I knew it was incredibly dangerous. But now, with more of us to feed and unable to afford daily meals, I had no other choice,” he explains.
A change of fortune
Despite facing thirst, hunger and poverty, two young adults, two boys and a baby began their long journey in January 2024, hitching lifts, taking buses, and moving forward through sheer determination.
Their journey was a relentless struggle. Michell had to work and even beg on the streets at every turn to secure food, shelter, and the means for his family to travel. After leaving Peru and passing through Ecuador, they finally arrived in Colombia in the last quarter of 2024.
“Our journey through Colombia was marked by a violent robbery on our bus,” says Michell. “We lost our phones, suitcases, and what little we had. They also struck me on the head – hard!”
Then, Michell and his family had a change of fortune. On the road in Colombia, they encountered staff from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), who provided them with essential hygiene items for the baby and other family members.
The family also received comprehensive information about the risks and dangers of their route. They learned about social media misinformation, legal documents, education and work opportunities, and guidance on their responsibilities and rights concerning minors.
The three children, meanwhile, took part in fun activities that taught them practical skills for dealing with the risks they would face. They learned to avoid contaminated water, to stay close to family, and not to interact with strangers.
The gateway to the Darien Gap
Along with thousands of others seeking to cross the border between Colombia and Panama, Michell and his family arrived in the town of Necoclí, the gateway to the Darien Gap jungle crossing.
Here it is almost impossible for refugees and migrants to find shelter. This leaves them vulnerable to infections, while the limited availability of safe water and food often results in gastrointestinal diseases.
“We slept in the park. I was utterly drained, and we were all ill. When I saw the t-shirt of the organisation that had assisted us earlier, a feeling of relief washed over me,” Michell shares.
Michell remembers the humanitarian assistance provided by NRC. He and his family received temporary accommodation where they could recover, medical referrals for the children, medication, and psychological support, all made possible by funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Destiny can change
Michell reflects: “Migration transforms you. Your memories expand, and your body adapts to walking thousands of miles, encountering countless people, and enduring a multitude of experiences.”
Once they had recovered and fully understood the enormous risks posed by the jungle crossing, the family opted to return to Colombia and stay there.
“I'm terrified of crossing the Darién. I fear for all my family, that something will happen, and our situation will worsen. The jungle is a perilous place, and our priority is survival,” explains Michell.
Instead, he will continue his search for a place where he can earn a living, secure his family’s safety, and establish a permanent home for them.
“For now, I’ll keep thinking about achieving my dream and meeting our needs, because I love the people who are with me,” he says.
An urgent need for protection
In early 2025, the number of refugees and migrants crossing the treacherous Darién Gap connecting South America to Central America decreased significantly. However, Michelle's story is an urgent reminder to the authorities in Panama, Colombia and the entire region that the need for robust humanitarian assistance and protection remains vital.
Urgent and collaborative action is needed from governments across Latin America, and donors. They must prioritise the protection of refugees and migrants, respect their rights, and alleviate their humanitarian needs.
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