As someone who survived a devastating earthquake in 2016, which left me with severe PTSD at the age of 12, I know a little of what so many people there are experiencing right now. I know what it's like to jump at every vibration, to be terrified of sleeping indoors, to wait for the next aftershock, and to feel like the ground beneath you can never truly be trusted again, and to desperatly wait for your family members to walk through that door alive. What happened in Venezuela isn't "just another earthquake." On June 24, the country was struck by two extremely powerful earthquakes, a magnitude 7.2 followed just seconds later by a magnitude 7.5. That second quake hit before many people had even processed the first, causing catastrophic damage across northern Venezuela, especially in La Guaira and parts of Caracas. Rescue teams are still searching through collapsed buildings, and the number of victims continues to rise as more people are found. My heart especially aches for the children, because disasters don't only destroy buildings, they leave families separated, people displaced, and children at a much greater risk of exploitation and trafficking. In moments like these, fear and desperation become opportunities for predators, which is why protecting vulnerable people must be just as important as rescue efforts. The picture below you is an actual child/people trafficking disguised as online shop, please take a look at it:

To everyone in Venezuela: your grief is seen, and your fear is valid. And to those who are spending another night outside because they're too afraid to go back into their homes, I hope you know that people around the world are thinking of you. If you've never experienced an earthquake before, please don't tell survivors to "just calm down." Trauma doesn't disappear once the shaking stops, sometimes the hardest part begins afterward. Here are some links that I've seen so far to help.

Caritas Venezuela (LINK HERE): Known as the helping hand of the Church that reaches out to the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized, regardless of race or religion, to build a world founded on justice and brotherly love.

Diviendo Voluntariado (LINK HERE): A civil association that brings together efforts from the private sector and adds value to corporate social responsibility initiatives, in partnership with social development organizations, authorities, agencies, and communities, with the aim of promoting actions that improve the quality of life for people in Venezuela.

Yummy Rides Donations (LINK HERE): A ride-sharing mobile app that operates primarily in Venezuela, designed to book safe and affordable rides by car or motorcycle that joined the cause.

Help find their mascosts: TWITTER POST HERE

THIS WEBPAGE was created by a Venezuelan with certified channels to help (donating, voluntaring, look for people, food and clothes.)

GOOGLE DOCS with links as well in both languages SPA/ENG

CURRENT TWITTER POSTS THAT UPDATE LINKS TO HELP VENEZUELA (will update this everytime i get):

POST #1

POST #2

‘💬’ ─ off topic but it’s so hot right now that i feel like a baked rotisserie chicken from costco

‘💬’ ─ off topic but it’s so hot right now that i feel like a baked rotisserie chicken from costco

🗒️ NOTE — sooo who is going to tell them the chances are VERY likely...?

🗒️ NOTE — sooo who is going to tell them the chances are VERY likely...?