Jesusita: “I’ve always been a fighter”

Published

15 July 2026

When an earthquake forced Jesusita from her home in La Guaira, Venezuela, in June 2026, she drew on a lifetime of experience. At almost 81 years old, she has lived through some of Venezuela’s most significant emergencies, raising a family and building a livelihood while navigating decades of change. Today, living in a tent with her daughter and granddaughter, she continues to face uncertainty with the same resilience that has guided her throughout her life.

Jesusita has spent decades building a life for herself and her family in La Guaira, Venezuela. She arrived in the area 45 years ago, when it was little more than wasteland, and worked tirelessly to create opportunities for her children and grandchildren.

“I’ve always been a hard-working woman,” she says.

Over the years, she ran a small business from her home, selling shoes, fresh water, soft drinks and meals. Through persistence and determination, she made pension contributions, raised five children and helped support her family. Today, although retired, she still makes and sells homemade ice cream to supplement her modest pension.

“My children are grown up now, I’ve given them an education, they’ve become professionals,” she says. “I don’t work anymore, but I still help them out as best I can.”

Facing another earthquake

The recent earthquake is not the first disaster Jesusita has experienced. She lived through the Caracas earthquake of 1967, the Vargas floods of 1999 and now this latest emergency. These experiences have shaped her resilience and strengthened her determination to keep moving forward.

Even so, she says this disaster has been particularly difficult because it affected younger members of her family who had never experienced such an event before.

“Well, so far [the earthquake] has been quite a lot to cope with, more in the sense that we weren’t expecting this. I’ve been through it before, but my daughter hadn’t experienced any of this, nor had my grandchildren.”

Although her apartment building remains standing, cracks throughout the structure mean it is not currently safe to live in. As a result, Jesusita is staying in a tent alongside her daughter and granddaughter while they wait for answers about when they can return home.

Finding light in difficult circumstances

Among the items helping her navigate daily life is a solar lamp provided through support from HelpAge global network member CADENA International. The lamp has become an essential part of her routine while living in temporary shelter.

“Thank you for the aid provided. I, as a Venezuelan, I am very grateful, truly, to the people who have come from abroad to look after us. We have received a great deal of help, a great deal of kindness and plenty of encouragement to stay strong and get people’s lives back on track. And for that we are grateful. I am very grateful for that.”

[The lamp] is very important, because I’m in the dark today. I’m living on the streets, under a tent, and I don’t even have a candle to light my way. This help, this support from outside, comes my way, and I receive it with all the love in my life. And whatever comes my way, I’ll take it all in my stride. And I’m grateful to all of you.

Jesusita, 80 year old survivor of the earthquakes in Venezuela

Each day, she places the lamp in the sun so it can recharge. At night, it provides light inside the tent, helping her move around safely, find what she needs, pray and rest.

For Jesusita, however, the lamp represents something larger than practical support.

“It’s very important, because you can’t manage without light,” she explains. “You always need a light to guide you… a light that accompanies you, protects you and keeps you safe from harm and danger.”

Speaking up for older people

While grateful for the assistance she has received, Jesusita is also thinking about others in her community. She is particularly concerned about older people who are living alone or managing health conditions without adequate support.

With this tragedy, we need everything - we need doctors, we need food, we need a lot of care. There are many older people who suffer from high blood pressure who [don’t have] wheelchairs. Some of them are on their own, and so you have to help them. That is what Venezuela needs – better care for Venezuela, for us Venezuelans, because we are workers and fighters.

Jesusita, 80 year old survivor of the earthquakes in Venezuela

Her message is rooted not in dependency, but in solidarity. She believes older people should be supported so they can continue contributing to their families and communities.

Looking ahead

Like many people affected by the earthquake, Jesusita’s greatest wish is simple: to return home and live safely with her family once again. Having a secure roof over her head would allow her to continue living the life she has worked so hard to build.

Yet even amid uncertainty, she remains steadfast.

“As long as I don’t have my home, well, we’ll see what happens – only time will tell.

But if things don’t turn out well, we’ll have to find a way to keep on surviving, because giving up and letting ourselves die is not an option either, and certainly not at this stage, because I’ve always been a fighter.”

A lifetime of resilience

Throughout her life, Jesusita has adapted to change, supported her family and overcome challenges that would have discouraged many others. From raising children and running a small business to navigating repeated disasters, she has approached each chapter with determination and purpose.

Today, living in a tent while waiting to return home, she continues to embody that same spirit. Her story is of perseverance, generosity and a belief that no matter the circumstances, there is always a way forward.

Supporting older people after the earthquake

In the aftermath of the earthquakes, the HelpAge global network along with CADENA International are supporting older people and their families with essential assistance, including solar lamps, water filters and other emergency supplies.

We are also working to identify and respond to the specific needs of older people, many of whom face challenges accessing healthcare, mobility aids and safe shelter. By working alongside affected communities, we want to ensure that older women and men recover with dignity and remain connected to the support they need.