fAn innovative voluntary internalization program helps Venezuelans and host communities thrive in cities like São Paulo and Brasília.
The city of Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima, was different from what 18-year-old Jefferson expected after leaving his home country due to the lack of food and job opportunities.
Since 2015, 3 million people have left Venezuela. So far, more than 150,000 Venezuelans have entered Brazil through Roraima, a state located in the north of the country, and more than 75,000 have requested refuge. According to Jefferson, in Boa Vista there were no stable jobs and the shelters were full. Two months later, thanks to the voluntary internalization program led by the federal government, which operates with the support of the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other UN agencies, he landed in São Paulo.
Since 2015, 3 million people have left Venezuela. So far, more than 150,000 Venezuelans have entered Brazil through Roraima, a state located in the north of the country, and more than 75,000 have requested refuge. According to Jefferson, in Boa Vista there were no stable jobs and the shelters were full. Two months later, thanks to the voluntary internalization program led by the federal government, which operates with the support of the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other UN agencies, he landed in São Paulo.
Since April 2018, the government has transferred around 3,000 Venezuelans from the border areas of northern Brazil to cities that offer better integration opportunities, such as Brasilia and São Paulo. Jefferson has heard all kinds of stories about how São Paulo is a “huge and dangerous” city. For him, as for many Venezuelans, however, the city proved to be very welcoming.
“All Venezuelans want is an opportunity to work, to demonstrate their potential.”
Jefferson is now living in better conditions in a temporary shelter run by the municipality of São Paulo, which receives only Venezuelans. In less than three months, after learning some Portuguese and attending a vocational course offered by the municipality, Jefferson was hired by McDonald's and can now send money to his family in Venezuela. Very soon, he will leave the shelter for a long-term residence. He is grateful to Brazil: “All Venezuelans want is an opportunity to work, to show their potential,” he says.
Jefferson's manager at the restaurant, Jorge Luis da Silva, has had a very positive experience of adding Venezuelans to his team. He decided to hire Jefferson and three other Venezuelans because they work well, are dedicated and inspire the team. “Their dedication motivates the other workers. They are an example,” says the manager.
Innovative initiatives created in Brazil by the public sector - involving the federal government, states and municipalities - in collaboration with private companies, the UNHCR and local partners - are promoting access to the labor market for Venezuelan refugees and migrants in various economic activities, such as industry, services, retail, construction and agriculture.
Francis* has been living in São Paulo for two months, after being relocated by the government program, and is already employed. She attends an interactive kiosk called “Eu Sou Refugiado” (I Am a Refugee), where visitors to the São Paulo Arts Biennial have the opportunity to learn more about refugees living in Brazil.
Francis' children - Jorge, aged 10, and Emily, aged 2 - stayed in Venezuela with their grandparents. She dreams of bringing her family to São Paulo so that her parents can grow old with dignity and her children can enjoy a better quality education.
“A refugee is someone who wants an opportunity to rebuild their life. Brazil is a beautiful land where we hope to repay all that we have received,” said Francis.
“Their dedication motivates the other workers. They are an example.”
General Motors is a company that values diversity in its work environment and understands that hiring migrants and refugees is good for business.
“We've noticed that the arrival of refugees and migrants has encouraged a different dynamic in the department where they work,” said Priscilla Barros, GM's human resources manager. “People have been helping each other more and are working with enthusiasm. When people work in an environment in which they feel welcome, they bring better results to the company.”.
Angel* is one of GM's new hires. In Venezuela, she worked as a chef. Since August, he has been working as a tinkerer on the car assembly line.
Now that he has a stable job, Angel hopes to bring his two sons to São Paulo. “Maybe one of them can work in the same company as me,” he said. His eldest son, Daniel, 21, was studying electrical engineering in Venezuela, but had to leave because of the lack of teachers and access to transportation.
Angel moved from the public shelter to an apartment with three other Venezuelans. They can now afford to pay rent and hope to bring their families to Brazil soon.
Angel misses his country. He is grateful that other countries in the region, like Brazil, are sheltering Venezuelans. “What is happening there could happen in any other country,” he says.
“It's great to feel that Brazilians accept us and see that we can contribute to the country's future.”.
Through the internalization program, Rolando and his family - wife and two daughters - settled in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, in July 2018. In Venezuela, Rolando was a port operations technician. When he arrived in Boa Vista, in the north of Brazil, he worked as a bricklayer and car washer.
Job opportunities increased when he arrived in Brasilia. By participating in the employment program supported by the UNHCR and its local partners, Rolando received three job offers and decided to work at Cia da Terra, a local pet shop chain.
“I already consider Brazil my second home,” he says. “It's great to feel that Brazilians accept us and to see that we can contribute to the country's future.”.
The owner of the pet shop, Priscilla Davis, was moved when she saw so many Venezuelans arriving in Brasilia on television.
“We know that Brazil is far from perfect, but these people are leaving their homes, families and everything behind. So the situation in the country must really be unsustainable,” she said. “Of course they need work to rebuild their lives,” she concludes.
At first, Priscilla planned to hire two people of Venezuelan origin as general service assistants in her chain of pet shops. She was delighted with the proactivity, commitment and happiness that everyone showed during the job interviews. At the end of the selection process, she ended up hiring three Venezuelans.
“We're a team,” adds Priscilla. “When a new person arrives full of willpower, expressing joy at being here, in a different country, it affects everyone in the company, it ends up motivating everyone. I'm undoubtedly leaving here much more motivated than when I arrived.”
For Rolando, his greatest motivation is his children: “I've done what I had to do. I studied and achieved a lot of good things in Venezuela. Now my dreams are the dreams of my children.”