Since taking refuge with his family at the José María Vargas Sports Complex in La Guaira, Jeremías has attended a UNICEF-supported Child-Friendly Space every day. The sports complex is one of the temporary shelters hosting families who lost their homes or whose houses were severely damaged by the two devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela.
Jeremías, 13, managed to escape in time with his mother, father, and sister after receiving an earthquake alert on his tablet. Although the family is safe, their home sustained extensive damage.
Today, Jeremías spends his days at the shelter participating in recreational, sports, and art activities. He says that almost all of his classmates are staying at the same shelter.
“I like Real Madrid and Messi,” he says. He plays basketball and volleyball, draws, paints, and spends time with other children. These activities not only give him the chance to play again, but also provide psychosocial support, emotional comfort, and a sense of normalcy amid the emergency.
“Where we used to live, there was a school. But it’s gone now. We are grateful to be among the living and not among those who lost their lives,” says his mother, Dionicys.
For her, the Child-Friendly Space have been essential in helping her children cope with the emotional impact of the disaster.
"“The most important thing is that they have a place where they can play and gradually recover from the emotional shock they experienced. Sometimes they remember what happened and start crying. Here, they can play, paint, and express how they feel. The psychological support is incredibly important,
-Dionicys, Jeremías' mother.
The family is also facing additional challenges, including ensuring that Jeremías can continue receiving the medical care he needs.
“My son has autism. He was receiving regular medical care, but the hospital where he was being treated was damaged. Now we are trying to figure out how to continue that follow-up care,” his mother says.
Following the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, dozens of health facilities and hundreds of schools were damaged, disrupting essential services for thousands of children.
UNICEF’s response is already underway on the ground, in coordination with the Government of Venezuela, the United Nations system and humanitarian partners. Specialized teams in emergency response, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, child protection, and logistics have been deployed to support affected communities.
As part of the response, UNICEF has set up Child-Friendly Spaces in temporary shelters such as the José María Vargas Sports Complex, where children can access recreational, educational, and psychosocial support activities in safe and protective environments.
As families begin the long road to recovery, spaces like these allow children like Jeremías to do something essential for their wellbeing: play, learn, and feel safe again.
