May the Source of strength who blessed the ones before us
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing
Mi Shebeirach (The one who blessed)
After years of democratic decay in Venezuela, I arrived to Caracas in October 2014 expecting to witness a transition of power. As months went by, I found myself less and less impressed by the economic, political and social immobility that rule this city. In parallel, streets had gone darker. Crime rates have swollen. Moral relativism has taken over.
Chavismo Ruins (Venezuela, 2017)
I felt something started changing back in April, though. For nearly two months now, Venezuelans have been holding almost-daily demonstrations against the regime. People are struggling not to fall off a cliff that represents the ultimate violation to their freedom. Meanwhile, streets are still dark. Crime rates are getting higher.
…but morals might be having a strong comeback.
While it is true that some criminals are profiting from the chaos derived from the situation, I feel that people are increasingly embracing a strong sense of community. Shortages of food, medicines and basic goods are motivating young Venezuelans to donate and work as volunteers in peri-urban areas (“barrios populares” in Spanish) such as Petare and El Calvario. I occasionally join my Venezuelan friends and bring my camera along to capture the spirit of the people behind this story full of magical realism.
Children born and raised in barrios always manage to capture my attention; in times of desperation, they always find a way to make you smile. Here´s a small compilation of some of my favorite pictures for you to enjoy:
Thanks for stopping by.
Love,
Maite