For people like Jose and his family, life in Venezuela became a battle against injustice.
As a human rights advocate, Jose fought for his community’s rights to basic needs like food and clean water. His activism, however, made him a target, forcing him, his wife, and their two children to flee to the UK in search of safety in February 2022.
When they arrived, the challenges continued. The family was placed in temporary hotel accommodation in Birmingham, a stark environment with no reminders of the vibrant traditions or familiar foods they left behind. Jose, his wife, and their children were given two small rooms, where they spent nearly 18 months. The family’s experiences were tough; the food provided in the hotel was often unhealthy and unfamiliar, and the limited resources left them struggling to find comfort in an unwelcoming space.
“The food quality was awful, and my children could barely eat the food, but unfortunately, we didn’t have a choice. It was very unhealthy and greasy with a minimum of fresh ingredients.”
Through Refugee Action’s support, Jose and his family were recently moved to a more stable home where they can begin to rebuild their lives.
Now, he can look forward to cooking the foods his family loves, reestablishing traditions that remind them of home and giving them hope for the future.
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