Long before the recent tragedy that struck Venezuela, solidarity had already found a home there. This non-profit association was founded with a clear purpose that it maintains to this day: to support Venezuelans and Portuguese-Venezuelans who have chosen to live in our country, facilitating their integration and extending a helping hand to those starting over from scratch.

However, the devastating earthquake that hit Venezuela shifted the organisation's immediate priorities. Its focus, usually centred on supporting the local community in the Algarve, rapidly expanded to respond to the humanitarian emergency in the homeland. At a time when every hour counts in saving lives, AVA has become a key regional hub for collecting donations, activating a complex logistics network to deliver essential goods and financial aid to Venezuela.

A solid structure serving the emergency

Author: AVA;

The association's longevity is one of its greatest assets during this crisis. Because it is not an ad hoc organisation, AVA’s established statutes and contact networks enabled an immediate response. As the association's treasurer, Carlos Salcedo Morales, explains exclusively to The Portugal News, the duty of solidarity knows no borders: "We are a non-profit association that helps Venezuelans. And right now, amidst the tragedy of the earthquake in Venezuela, it is part of our mandate to support the entire Venezuelan people, whether they are in Portugal or back in our home country."

To turn the delivery of aid into a tangible reality, the association established crucial strategic partnerships with the transport operator Liberty Express and the Venezuela-Portugal Chamber of Commerce (Cavenport). The logistics operation was meticulously planned: goods collected by AVA in the Algarve are consolidated and transported to Lisbon by Liberty Express; from the Portuguese capital, the Chamber of Commerce secures the necessary air bridge, routing the cargo via Lisbon and Miami to its final destination in Venezuela.

How to help: collection points and donations

Author: AVA;

To facilitate this wave of solidarity, AVA has successfully organised more than five active collection points across the Algarve region, including Almancil, Faro, Albufeira, and Lagos. The appeal focuses on collecting essential goods, with a particular, urgent need for non-perishable food, warm clothing, and medicines.

Author: AVA;

Alongside the physical collection of goods, the association, as a legally constituted entity, is also accepting monetary donations. These funds are intended to cover logistical expenses incurred within the country or are transferred directly to recognised institutional partners on the ground, including hospitals and local associations in Venezuela with whom the board maintains direct contact, ensuring that financial support is converted into medical care and immediate assistance for earthquake victims.

A call to action and awareness

Author: AVA;

Given the magnitude of the disaster, the association's leadership emphasises that any help, however small it may seem, can make a difference. Carlos Salcedo Morales makes an impassioned appeal to civil society in Portugal, noting that sharing information is, in itself, a valuable form of cooperation:

"I ask the Portuguese people and everyone living in Portugal to help in any way possible, to do whatever is within their power right now to save lives in Venezuela. If you cannot provide material aid, please help by spreading the word."

Author: AVA;

Process transparency is a key priority for the organisation during this fundraising and donation drive. To ensure citizens can have all their questions answered and feel fully confident about where their contributions go, the treasurer has made a direct contact line available, favouring personal, human interaction over the impersonal nature of automated platforms.

Useful contacts and social media

Readers wishing to help, find out the exact locations of collection points, or learn how to make secure financial donations can interact directly with the association through its official channels:

Direct Phone / WhatsApp: +351 968 510 931

Email: geral@ava-pt.org

Official Headquarters: Avenida 5 de Outubro, Nº 6, 8135-100 Vale de Éguas, Loulé

For real-time updates on daily collection needs and reports on humanitarian aid shipments, the association invites the community to follow and share AVA’s official Instagram and Facebook pages.

The tragedy in Venezuela demands a swift, collective response. AVA has already demonstrated that its structure, honed over 15 years of organisational experience, is ready to channel the generosity of the Portuguese people. Now, it is up to each of us to answer the call and extend a helping hand to a people enduring one of their darkest hours.