Art therapy at work in Trinidad and Tobago

Ricardo Rondon, 14, is one of the many young people who have left their homes in Venezuela to find peace and security in Trinidad and Tobago. He’s enjoying living in Port of Spain and has made new friends.

Trinidad is a great country. I like it. I like the people. What I love about Trinidad is the nature, the beaches, the mountains. I’ve been here about two months and I have adapted quickly. We arrived on a boat from Chaguaramas with some members of my family. I miss my home: there’s nothing like the smell of Venezuela. I carry it in my blood.

I have been going to school to help improve my English. I have a lot of Trinidadian friends as well as Venezuelan friends as I’m very outgoing. I feel quite accepted. Not by everyone - Trinidad has both good and bad people. Some ask, “What are you doing here in my country?” I just tell them I’m here out of necessity.

I feel safe. I can roam around and there’s the opportunity to do activities. It’s different from Venezuelan, where I didn’t feel safe at all.

The journey here was tough. You need to be strong. It’s not for the weak. You have to be a warrior. There were waves in the ocean and some very bad things...

Every day I ask God to free Venezuela. That’s my biggest hope for the future.