Crisis in Venezuela: What's Happening and How it Impacts iPrep

By Samantha Cawley and Sidney Harada, Eighth Graders

   Have you been paying attention to international news? If you haven’t, then here is the information you should know. The Venezuelan crisis started in 2010 under the presidency of Hugo Chavez and continues during the presidency of Nicolas Maduro. Political corruption and unemployment along with other problems have contributed to the worsening crisis in Venezuela. What’s wrong with Venezuela you might ask? Venezuela is currently dealing with many catastrophic issues. Venezuela’s population used to consist of 32.4 million people. However, since 2014, 2.3 million people have left, reported BBC news.

​   Political corruption is a growing issue in Venezuela, it can’t get any worse. Venezuela has hit “rock-bottom” (Mrs. Hauser), they can go further into the depths of dictatorship and the only  help they’ll be able to receive will be from forming a coup, or by receiving soldiers from other countries. The large amount of corruption and misgovernment in the country has resulted in severe economic difficulties. Nicolas Maduro, the current ‘president’, has been known to “bribe people in Venezuela for ‘votes’” (Naomi Eshghi). Not only does this imply political corruption, it also implies that whenever there will be another ‘election’ it will be “completely rigged.” There are many issues occurring within Venezuela, political corruption being only one of them.

   Ms. Hauser, a high school teacher, is from Venezuela. When asked if she was originally from Venezuela, she elaborated with saying, “I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I moved to the United States when I was 18 years old to attend college.” She further explained, “I do not see a viable resolution to the problem. I also feel very sad that I will most likely never return to Venezuela, and my children will never see where I grew up.” Ms. Hauser believes the only way something will change will be with military intervention. Ms. Hauser concludes with what she thinks the biggest problem facing Venezuela currently is, “Lack of ethical leadership that has led to extreme poverty."

   Naomi Eshghi, an eighth grade student, is Venezuelan as well. When asked what her opinions on this current issue are and what does she predict will happen, Naomi responds, “The government is advertised as a democracy but in reality it is a dictatorship.” The government gains power and this power is then used for drug dealing. On top of that, they give benefits to the people who support them, and if you don’t, consider yourself dead. “Currently, the major problem is their government because it holds power that controls everything else. Companies have been forced to close. Not only because they go bankrupt but the value of Bolivar (currency) constantly changes. When these businesses close down, people lose their job and can no longer pay for human necessities.”

   Sebastian Lopez, a tenth grader, says he was born in America but his Grandmother is currently living in Venezuela, and so is the rest of her family. When asked ‘what are your opinions on the current crisis and what do you predict will happen next?’ Sebastian exclaims, “I don’t know everything that is going on, however I do know it’s a really bad situation. I have a feeling that this issue at hand is going to get worse and possibly destroy their livelihood. The biggest problem that faces Venezuela is probably the fact that they are running out of food rapidly fast.”

   The crisis in Venezuela is only getting worse. More and more people are leaving it, allowing the country to fall into a deeper depression. People with Venezuelan heritage are worried about what is going to happen. Our hearts go out to the people of Venezuela…