Venezuelans seek economic opportunities in Mexico

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Europe

By CGTN's Franc Contreras

Political uncertainty and financial crisis have led many Venezuelans to seek a better life elsewhere. But life abroad is not easy either, especially when it comes to finding a job. That's why some Venezuelans are creating their own jobs.

Los Chamos is a Venezuelan restaurant located in an upper-middle class Mexico City neighborhood. The owner and waitress are both Venezuelan migrants. They make arepas – Venezuelan corn cakes stuffed with meats and vegetables.

The owner, Maril Guevara, said this is her first small business venture and she's proud of it.

Venezuelan migrants offer stuffed arepas, a typical Venezuelan dish, to Mexican guests at a party in Mexico City. /VCG Photo

Back in Caracas, she worked for the Venezuelan government's education ministry. As tensions grew in her country, Guevara migrated to Mexico eight years ago with her husband and two daughters. She said newcomers are finding it harder to get work papers here.

Opposition forces and many Venezuelan citizens blame the political crisis in their country for triple-digit inflation, which they say has led to a lack of food and medicine.

Venezuelans living in Mexico have responded by attempting to send medicine, diapers and milk to families back home.

Guevara has been organizing relief efforts. With oil prices depressed and the economy in shambles, there's even more pressure on Venezuelans living abroad to send funds back home.

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