Samuel & Kevin getting back on their feet

Hi, I'm Michelle, and I'm helping two young men get back on their feet after a series of extremely difficult events they've suffered very recently.

Samuel and Kevin came to our house as part of a landscaping team last month. They did an amazing amount of hard work over 7 days. Their music and singing made for a cheerful ambience all week long. We got to know each other during the week and even shared an "arepas" meal. They told me about their lives and how young they started working while traveling all over South America finding places to work. Their goal now (beyond survival here) is sending a little money to help their Venezuelan families survive.

Both are hard working and respectful, refusing to enter our house without permission, despite my pleas and reassurance (in Spanish) that they were welcome any time.

A Venezuelan colleague of mine (who also had to leave) has been helping me understand the hardships that his people are suffering. Hardships that pushed Kevin, Samuel & young siblings, even babies, to cross the Darien Gap, an unimaginable stretch of jungle that takes 7 days to cross while facing countless deadly hazards. Later Samuel was captured by the Mexican cartel. He only escaped, thanks to one sympathetic soul who gave him 5 minutes to run before they'd find him and kill him.

Samuel and Kevin were seeking asylum here but before crossing to the US, the cartel ripped up their papers, laughing in their faces. The suffering is unimaginable, and continues. All they want is to work hard.

Two weeks later I reached out to ask how they were doing and it turned out their boss had taken advantage of them. This wasn’t their first time being mistreated by a supposed "boss".

They’ve never asked me for anything, only leads for more work.

The very next day, the pair was on a Vespa and got hit by an SUV. Samuel has severe femur injuries, both have significant skin damage, gashes, stitches and bruising, and yet all they can talk about is getting back to work so they can pay rent and help their families.

We saw them through the hospital stay. Both in recovery, it will take weeks to get back to work (and several months for Samuel).

They want to be solid, contributing members of society and the odds are against them.

Please help me get them on their feet while they recover and find work again.

Yes, we are trying to tap into local resources, but it takes time.

There's a long road ahead, but they are determined. Frontal pictures not included, in the interest of privacy.