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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Disasters & Emergencies

Community Leadership Key to Earthquake Response in Venezuela, Says Mi Convive

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Community leadership and Venezuelan solidarity have been crucial in responding to the earthquake emergency, according to the social organization Mi Convive.
  • A month after the tremors, the organization has witnessed significant leadership and solidarity, with individuals supporting their communities even after personal losses.
  • Mi Convive focuses on strengthening community capacities, providing psychosocial support, and fostering economic opportunities for those affected by the earthquakes.

Community leadership has been fundamental in responding to the emergency following the earthquakes in Venezuela, according to Luis Palacios, coordinator of the social organization Mi Convive. He also highlighted the crucial role of solidarity among Venezuelans in the aftermath of the tremors that struck on June 24.

Palacios observed "the greatest exercise of leadership and solidarity to date" in the country one month after the tragedy. He emphasized that even individuals who lost family members continue to support their communities, while others offer shelter to displaced families without expecting anything in return.

the exercise of leadership and of solidarity the largest until now

— Luis PalaciosDescribing the community response one month after the earthquake.

Mi Convive works to bolster community resilience and provide psychosocial support to those affected. "We believe faithfully not only in community leadership but also in the capacity we can have for accompaniment and resilience for victims in general," Palacios stated in an interview with Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias.

We believe faithfully not only in the community leadership but also in the capacity that we can have of accompaniment and of resilience for the victims in general

— Luis PalaciosExplaining Mi Convive's core philosophy in supporting earthquake victims.

The organization offers psychosocial support to help cope with collective trauma in shelters and collaborates with other groups to improve resource distribution and address community needs. "It is a different intervention for each location, understanding their needs, their particularities, but it is above all hand-in-hand with the local leadership with whom we do things, trusting in it," he detailed.

Mi Convive also focuses on training community leaders and helping resolve coexistence issues within shelters. Recognizing that many affected areas saw businesses looted, leaving people without homes and jobs, the organization directs aid toward these citizens. This includes training in trades, identifying talents, and generating economic opportunities for the affected communities.

It is a different intervention for each point, understanding their needs, their particularities, but it is above all of the hand of the local leadership with which we do things, trusting in him

— Luis PalaciosDetailing Mi Convive's approach to working with local communities.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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