TheCarePkg

THE CARE PACKAGE for VENEZUELA

Hi, my name is Sofia Dotta. I am a venezuelan born artist based in Miami. I moved to Miami 7 years ago with my mother and then my grandma joined us. Most of my family, including my dad, sibbling, cousins and many friends, are still in Venezuela. We are not the only family who has been separated because of the current situation of the country. Being far away from them, and not being able to support and be physically present, gives you a feeling of impotency. I couldn't bare any longer to be sitting while watching the news of children dying in hospitals because of the lack of medicine and food, without trying to help in any way possible.  I gatehered with my mother (also venezuelan) and my partner (who is from Miami) to come up with a way to help, or show support. We decided to come up with the TheCarePkg (read more below), to raise funds that will be used to buy medical supplies in Miami, to then send them 'care packages' to Caracas. The following is the list of basic medical supplies (and other things) that will be bought: 

Medicine:
Meropenem ampoules
Metronidazole ampoules
Ciprofloxacin ampoules
Adrenaline racemic vials
Ampicillin ampoules
Amoxicillin, ampoules
Azithromycin, blisters, suspension, tablets
Salbutamol inhalers
Budesonide inhaler
Omeprazole ampoules, tablets
Lansoprazole ampoules, tablets
Furosemina, ampoules
Clarithomycin
Acetaminophen
Insulin in vials
Prednisone
Syringe
Beta-agonists #16 y #18

MORE:
Infant milk formulas
Baby bottles
Diapers
Toys

We did the math in Miami, and to buy one of each medicine listed above (that is equivalent to ONE treatment for ONE person) we estimated 1,600 dollars. Help us help them! 

What is TheCarepkg - VZLA? 

TheCarePkg - VZLA is an initiative by young artists. It started as a pop up Art show with the goal of raising funds to send basic supplies such as food, clothing and, medicine, for the people, particularly for the children in Caracas, Venezuela. In this event, that will take place in June, the funds will be used to purchase a list of needed medical supplies and then sent to Caracas. “The Care Package - VZLA” also aims to raise awareness, from Miami, about the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Venezuela to an international community.

As artists, we know that art has the power to transform, inspire change and evoke emotions. It is for this reason that we have invited and reached out to artists that work with different mediums, from cartoonists to muralist, conceptual artists and sculptors to musicians. They have, as communality, the solidarity and will to come together to support a country in the mist of a humanitarian crisis.

We have decided to stand up and offer a helping hand in the best way we can. We are aware that no everyone can come to this event, but they will still like to support and, therefore, we have decided to extend the event to this GoFundMe page, in order to reach out for more help.  

If you'd like to see the process, and/or reach out to us, follow us on IG: www.instagram.com/thecarepkg/ 

Who? 

Evelyn Villegas, Muta Santiago, Daniel Almeida and Sofía Dotta with the support of all the participants and sponsors.

The intent of this GoFundMe (and the event) is no other that to gather a varied audience of an array of groups and nationalities with the aim of raising funds for medical supplies and raise awareness about the current social and political situation in Venezuela from the most neutral standpoint. Under no circumstances we call for or resort to violence, to or from any party. The sole intention of this event is to show support and take action towards the precarious situation in Venezuela. 

Note: Funds will be ran through TheCarePkg Corp. which is a company that was opened by me (Sofia Dotta) specifically for charity and donations. I will be withdrawing the funds to my account, and with ALL proceeds made, will be buying the medical supplies and others thigs like toys, pampers and babybottles, to make our Care Packagges (boxes with all the supplies) to be shipped to Caracas.  The people who will be recieving the donation are my pediatricians Tita Quesada from when I was a child and her colleague, Huniades Urbina-Medina -who's the president of the Pediatric Society of Venezuela; they will help distribute the packages in childrens hospitals in need. 


WHY? 

Being abroad doesn’t mean to be distant. Maybe, physically, my leg muscles are not moving in the protests with others, my feet are not getting tired, nor my voice wears thin or my lungs get filled with tear gas… Nonetheless aside from ‘geographies’, tears and preoccupations become corporeal, the impotency and pain, rage and frustrations are physically manifested and not even physical distance makes them disappear.

To be abroad does not mean I don’t worry about those who are living the problems of a savage and corrupt government, almost soulless, that the only thing it brings is more preoccupations and misery, not only to those who are present, but for those of us who come from there, and even those who have created ties with Venezuela in forms of friendships or direct experiences.

For those of you who are not familiar with the situation, and the reason of this words, Venezuela is and has been suffering in the hands of a tyranny – assuming that I’m not at fault of putting such descriptive adjective. Eighteen years ago, is when this changes started to happen. Throughout 15 or 16 years of those 18, we have seen and lived injustice, attacks to our physical integrity and violations to the social and economic well being of the country and its inhabitants. 15 years is the time that the country has been torn apart and that justice and human rights have been totally ignored.

Not from abroad, nor from inside, It’s easy to see this happen in front of your eyes, like if it were a nightmare or a bad horror film. A country that had it all, and still has it, but in the wrong hands.

Without exception, and regardless of where we live and stand, we all want a change and we want to put an end to this exacerbated inhumanity. We want to recuperate and rebuild our country and it is of paramount importance that we remember that we all have the power of doing so, and that everyone can do it in the best way they can. It is for this reason that we have decided not to only speak about it but act upon. Know that this comes from young people in Miami, and not only from Venezuelans. Know that we stand in solidarity with adults, young people and children who will become the future of the country, and with those who are currently there. For the heroes that walk Venezuelan streets, know that you’re not alone.

- Sofia Dotta (Venezuelan, 22 yrs old)
 


. . . (ESPAÑOL) . . .
  

Qué es?

“TheCarePkg - VZLA” , es una iniciativa de jóvenes artistas. Empezó como un evento benéfico con el fin de recaudar fondos para enviar insumos que suplan las necesidades básicas como comida, medicina, ropa, etc. principalmente para niños en Venezuela. En éste evento en particular, que se llevará a cabo el 17 de Junio, los fondos recaudados serán usados para adquirir insumos médicos, los cuales serán enviados a Caracas. Desde Miami, “The Care Package - VZLA”, también tiene como meta generar conciencia e  informar a la comunidad internacional acerca de la situación actual en la que se encuentra Venezuela.

Cómo artistas, sabemos que el arte funciona como fuerza movilizadora, que tiene el poder de sensibilizar y concientizar. Por este motivo se convocaron artistas de diferentes medios como músicos, muralistas, caricaturistas, artistas conceptuales, pintores, escultores, etc., que tienen en común la solidaridad y el deseo de apoyar a un país al borde de una crisis humanitaria.

Hemos decidido actuar sobre la situación, y ofrecer una mano de la mejor manera que conocemos. Sabemos que no todo el mundo podrá asistir al evento, pero igual tiene la voluntad de apoyar. Por este motivo, hemos decidido extender el evento a una página de GoFundMe, para conseguir más apoyo.

La finalidad de este GoFundMe, y de este evento, no es más que juntar a una audiencia variada de distintos grupos y nacionalidades, con el fin de recaudar fondos y generar conciencia acerca de la situación en la que se encuentra Venezuela, de la manera más neutra. En ningún momento promovemos acciones violentas, ni nos asociamos con tal. La única intención este evento es recaudar fondos para enviar insumos médicos a Caracas.

Síguenos en Instagram para ver el proceso y/o contactarnos: www.instagram.com/thecarepkg/ 


Quienes lo organizan?

Evelyn Villegas, Sofía Dotta, Muta Santiago, y Daniel Almeida, con el apoyo de todos los participantes y sponsors.

Por qué?

Estar afuera del país no significa estar distante. Tal vez, físicamente los músculos de mis piernas no se mueven en las marchas con los demás, mis pies no se cansan, ni mi garganta se desgasta por gritar, y mis pulmones no se llenan de gas lacrimógeno…

Sin embargo, las lágrimas y preocupaciones son reales e independientes de geografías, la impotencia y el dolor, las rabias y frustraciones son manifestadas de una manera física, y la distancia no las hace desaparecer. 

Estar fuera no significa que no me preocupo por todos los que están viviendo el problema de un gobierno corrupto y salvaje, casi desalmado, que lo único que aporta es más preocupación para todos los que están presentes, venimos de allá, e incluso aquellos que han desarrollado alguna relación con Venezuela, ya sea por haber visitado hace años, haber vivido ahí, o incluso construir relaciones cercanas de amistad con Venezolanos.


Para los que no están familiarizados con la situación y el por qué de estas palabras, Venezuela está y ha estado sufriendo en las manos de una tiranía – asumiendo que no me equivoco al ponerle el adjetivo descriptivo. Hace 18 años, empezó este proceso de cambios. 15 o 16  años de estos 18, hemos visto y vivido injusticias, ataques a la integridad física,  bienestar social y económico del país y sus habitantes. 15 años es el tiempo que el país ha sido despedazado y dividido; que la justicia y los derechos humanos han sido ignorados.

Ni desde afuera, ni desde adentro, es fácil ver esto pasar como un espectador, es como si fuera una pesadilla o una película de terror de mal gusto. Un país que lo tenía todo, y que sigue teniendo todo, pero en las manos equivocadas.

Sin excepción, los de allá, aquí y acullá, queremos ver un cambio y queremos que esta inhumanidad exacerbada termine. Queremos recuperar y reconstruir nuestro país, y es importante que recordemos que todos tenemos el poder de hacerlo, y que cada quién lo debe hacer de la mejor manera que pueda. Es por esta razón, que hemos decidido no sólo hablar de esto, sino hacer algo al respecto.  Quiero que se sepa que esto viene de jóvenes de Miami, no sólo de venezolanos.  Quiero que se sepa que somos solidarios con los adultos, jóvenes y niños que serán el futuro del país, y con todos los que en este momento están ahí; para los héroes que caminan las calles de nuestro país día a día, sepan que no están solos.

- Sofia Dotta (Venezolana, 22 años)