COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR TWO EXCEPTIONAL VENEZUELAN STUDENTS

Joel and Levi Vasquez are both Venezuelan nationals and brothers, who have been attending college in the United States — shown here at the their graduation from community college in 2023 — are now both in their senior years at their four year universities.

Joel, is on track to graduate in May with a degree in International Relations, from California State University at Chico, and expects to pursue a graduate degree in Public Administration. Last fall he participated in the national Model United Nations Congress in Seattle, giving a speech on global migration to over 60 delegates. He hopes to one day work for a foundation or mission driven organization and is very community, service and solutions oriented.

His brother Levi, will graduate in May with a Health Science degree from PACE University’s College of Health Professions. He has been taking graduate level courses this semester and has been invited to join the school’s Masters of Pubic Health program in the fall. This semester he is completing 21 credits and also held down two internships this year. He is passionate about healthcare, and public health, an interest which grew from the loss of his father to liver cancer when he was about age 7. The experience made him want to learn more about how the body worked, and his own observation that his father’s condition might have been better with greater access to healthcare, and equity. In his internships, Levi has worked alongside physicians who have remarked on his core empathy as a driver of his interest in healthcare. He has also volunteered his time at the community level with a local food bank translating for over 100 families per week. While in high school, Levi trained a technical nurse an interned in a hospital system in Chia, Colombia, receiving commendations for his work.

Both boys were raised solely by their mother, Maria, a former university professor in Venezuela, now living in Colombia.

VAEA has helped to support their college journey through an initial grant, and later by acting as fiscal sponsor for external grants and donations.

Their story is unique in some ways but sadly familiar in others. In 2016, the family was living in the town of Merida, with little access to food, or adequate shelter, as homes were being confiscated, and teenage boys were being recruited into gangs. The small income Maria received from her position as a project manager in a small firm, vanished when the firm closed as the economic crisis deepened. Often having to wait hours on end for just the chance to buy food, the family’s situation was desperate.

At the same time, a member of VAEA’s advisory board, an American, happened to meet the family through a series of lucky coincidences, and was able to help them somewhat, through friendship and occasional financial support. As conditions continued to deteriorate, he helped the family relocate to Bogota, where both boys could complete high school, Maria could find work, and the family could gain a toehold, paying their flights and relocation costs. They were one family amongst the 2 million Venezuelans settled in Colombia.

Over time he became a sort of surrogate uncle to the boys who had been raised without a father. As both boys approached their senior years in high school, their futures needed to be considered and as they were both soccer players, they were introduced by friends in America, to a soccer coach who had played on the Colombian national team, and a relationship was formed. When this coach became the head coach of a small community college in California, he wished to give both boys a spot on his newly forming team, thus giving them a shot at an education in the US. Joel and Levi left for America in the fall of 2021, supported by funds raised from friends and an informal support network. After community college they were both accepted to four year colleges with modest, but most welcome scholarships.

All additional funds necessary for their education have been raised through a support network and caring friends.

Both boys are honor society students, hard working and with a strong desire to give back.

Now they are approaching graduation, and in need of support to complete their tuition payments, and so that they may graduate.

Funds will go direct to colleges. Details and graduation photos will be shared

VAEA is proud to have played a role in their journey and we hope you may consider helping Joel and Levi continue on their paths.

We need your support for them to finish their education.

Thanks in advance!