Making a way in
VENEZUELA
OUR PARTNERS: Silklife Church & Hogar Bambi Venezuela
Silklife Church has helped launch this appeal in response to the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, motivated by a desire to bring hope and practical support to those affected.
Our trusted in-country partner, Hogar Bambi Venezuela, has been caring for vulnerable children since 1992. Following the earthquakes, they have been providing emergency support and preparing to welcome more children in need of safety and care.
Together, we are helping create a safe place where vulnerable children can begin to recover and rebuild their lives.
KEY FACTS
24 June 2026: Two major earthquakes – magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, just 39 seconds apart – struck northern Venezuela, with the worst damage in La Guaira and Greater Caracas.
Lives lost and disrupted: Thousands of people have died, and many more have been injured. As of the 24th of July, more than 5,300 people are confirmed to have died in the quakes and more than 16,500 were injured, according to a tally updated almost daily by the government (BBC News).
Children at risk: Many children have lost their homes, their stability, and – in the worst cases – the parents or carers they depend on.
Trusted local partner: Hogar Bambi Venezuela has been caring for vulnerable children since 1992, and is now scaling up to meet urgent new need.
Help Us Prepare Bambi III for the Children Who Need It
Children are among those most vulnerable in the aftermath of this emergency. This BBC News article describes the situation and tells the story of one survivor who lost his wife and two young sons.
We are raising funds for Hogar Bambi Venezuela, with a particular focus on adapting and preparing Bambi III – an existing home that will allow the charity to respond to the sharp rise in the number of vulnerable children and young people needing safety, care and protection.
What your gift provide
The principal focus of this appeal is the preparation and conditioning of Bambi III. This facility will increase the capacity of Hogar Bambi to welcome children and young people affected by the emergency. Funds raised will help transform Bambi III into a safe, suitable and caring home, ready to receive those in urgent need of protection.
Since the earthquakes, the Hogar Bambi team has mobilised its resources to:
Operate a collection centre
Distribute essential supplies and logistical support to affected families and rescue workers
Visit temporary shelters to identify unaccompanied or at-risk children
Provide psychological and emotional support to children and their families
We aim to raise a minimum of £20,000 for Hogar Bambi. Your contribution can make a real difference:
£10 could provide bedding and essential supplies for one child arriving at Bambi III
£30 could help fund one workstation for one child in an extended classroom
£100 could contribute towards adapting one room of Bambi III to a safe standard for children
£500 could provide medical and psychological care for several children traumatised by the earthquake
£1,000 could help fully prepare a section of the home ready to welcome new arrivals
A reflection from Johan, a Venezuelan member of our church family
The Bible tells the story of Jesus weeping at the death of his friend Lazarus. It can seem puzzling; Jesus knew he was about to bring Lazarus back to life, so why did He weep? I believe He wept over the devastating impact that death has on those left behind – over its incredible ability to inflict pain.
When I saw the news about the earthquake, I wept – more than once and over several days. In a single day, thousands of people lost their lives, and those who survived were left mourning dead relatives, homeless, and having to start from scratch in a country already plagued by instability.
It is hard to grasp the level of suffering these people are experiencing. When tragedy like this occurs, we feel an urge to help – we live the events through the news we see – but after a week or two, the news feed slows. The situation for survivors in Venezuela hasn't changed though – their pain has not eased.
That is why we are launching this appeal. We want to impact as many lives as possible, particularly the most vulnerable. By supporting Hogar Bambi, we can help them continue and strengthen their work of responding to emergencies like this, easing the suffering of children who have survived such unimaginable loss.
This appeal is not simply about preparing a building.
It is about creating a place where a child who has experienced loss, displacement or trauma can feel safe again – a place with caring adults, essential provisions, and the stability needed to begin recovering.