International Migrants Day 2024: in Brazil, Venezuelans find inclusion through work

On International Migrants Day 2024, AVSI highlights the Venezuelan refugee and migrants crisis, one of the largest displacement events in recent history, with over 8 million people fleeing the country by 2024 due to a collapsing economy, political instability, and widespread shortages of food, medicine, and basic services.

Among the primary destinations for these refugees and migrants is Brazil, a neighboring country that has played a pivotal role in addressing the needs of Venezuelan population. Brazil’s handling of this humanitarian crisis is a story of both compassion and immense challenge. To date, Brazil has received over 500,000 Venezuelans, with many entering through the state of Roraima, which shares a border with Venezuela. The town of Pacaraima, in particular, has become a key entry point for thousands of refugees who arrive every month seeking safety and opportunities for a better life.

The profile of Venezuelan refugees and migrants entering Brazil has evolved over the years. Initially, many who left Venezuela had some economic means. Often, they were professionals and middle-class individuals. However, as the crisis deepened, more vulnerable populations began to flee. Today, most Venezuelans arriving in Brazil require social protection services. Many are families with young children, elderly people, and individuals with chronic health conditions who urgently require medical care.

To ease some of the burden on Roraima and facilitate a transition for Venezuelans to their new life in Brazil, the Federal Government of Brazil  established a unique and commendable response , centred around its “Operation Welcome” (Operação Acolhida). Launched in 2018, Operation Welcome is a multifaceted humanitarian effort which provides food, medical care, legal assistance, and shelter to refugees or migrants as they enter Brazil. The operation also emphasizes a key component of integration: relocation, or “interiorization,” which helps refugees and migrants move from overcrowded border regions to other parts of Brazil where they have better access to jobs and services.

One way in which Operation Welcome helps Venezuelans relocate to more permanent destinations in the country is through the interiorization-through-work modality, where a company in another state will formally hire a Venezuelan living in Roraima. AVSI Brasil was one of the pioneers of this modality. In 2018, AVSI Brasil partnered with a company in Salvador, Bahia to hire and relocate 12 Venezuelans and their families. AVSI helped them integrate in Salvador, connecting them with housing, schools, and health services, and mediating the relationship with the employer.

This succesful pilot caught the attention of both UNHCR and the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) and, in late 2019, PRM approved funding for a new, full-scale project called "Acolhidos por Meio do Trabalho” (Welcomed Through Work).

Welcomed Through Work is implemented by AVSI Foundation, AVSI Brasil, and the Migration and Human Rights Institute (IMDH), with continued funding from PRM. Over the past five years, the project has facilitated formal hiring for almost 2,000 Venezuelan migrants and refugees, as well as social protection and integration services for their families. The project also led to the creation of the Good Samaritan Center in Brasília, Federal District, a sort of “in-between” shelter for families on the path to integration in the Brasília area.   

The resilience of the Venezuelan refugees and migrants, along with the generosity of the Brazilian people, lies at the heart of this unfolding story. While the challenges are immense, the hope for a better future continues to drive both the migrants and refugees and the communities that welcome them. In the face of adversity, Brazil’s approach to the crisis offers a model of solidarity and humanity, demonstrating that with the right support and policies, migrants and refugees can not only survive but thrive in their new homes.

Through a series of intimate images, the photographer M.Bastianelli with AVSI Foundation and AVSI Brazil captured key moments in the refugees and migrants' journeys- starting from their arrival in border towns like Pacaraima in the state of Roraima, to their experiences in shelters, training centers, and as they integrate into Brazilian society. The photographs focus on personal stories of hardship and survival, capturing themes such as displacement, community support, adaptation, and the pursuit of dignity through work and education.

December 18 marks International Migrants Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 to raise awareness about migrants' rights and promote inclusion and integration without discrimination.