The ILO and SENATIC open pathways: the story of a young migrant who now dreams of becoming an architect

Sometimes, the most difficult roads lead to the most hopeful destinations. Such is the story of Alexandra Barroso Palmar, a young woman with a sweet gaze and a courageous smile, born 18 years ago in Guatire, Venezuela. Her story is not only that of a migrant, but of a survivor someone who has turned every setback into motivation, and every absence into a reason to move forward.

She was only ten when she began working, selling shoe sewing needles in Cuatrobocas, a forgotten corner of Venezuela. By her side was Yeya, her nine year old friend. Together, they shared not only hunger and exhaustion, but also their dreams. Alexandra recalls how Yeya, her voice trembling with sadness, once confided in her that she wanted to go to school, have a teddy bear and a new pair of shoes. In the face of such sorrow, little Alexandra would recite verses from the poem Don’t Give Up by Mario Benedetti a small ritual that, if only for a moment, brought comfort to an aching heart.

Venezuela’s crisis forced Alexandra and her family to migrate. They crossed informal border paths, traversed La Guajira, reached Maicao and eventually settled in Barranquilla, where she now lives with her father a construction worker her grandmother, sister and niece. One ordinary day, as she was walking with her mother through their neighbourhood, she tripped and fell. When she looked up, she saw the Institución Educativa Distrital América Latina. It was love at first sight. “I want to study there,” she said, not knowing that this small stumble would change her life.

She tried enrolling in several schools, but her status as a migrant without documentation meant many doors were closed to her. Only IED América Latina welcomed her. She wept with joy upon being admitted. But fate had another test in store: the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first day of school was online. She began sixth grade through a screen, not yet knowing her classmates' faces or the layout of the school.

When in-person classes resumed, Alexandra worked hard to integrate into school life. But her true opportunity arrived through SENATIC a technical training programme in teleinformatics systems and data analytics that came into her life as an unexpected gift. “When I started SENATIC, I felt happy. It was something new for me, and I knew it would open many doors,” she says. Now in her final year of secondary school, she is the student council representative, receives training in occupational safety, and dreams of becoming an architect. She’s certain that technology is everywhere and wants to use it to build the future.

Her instructor, Viviana Anaya, has played a key role in her journey. “She’s very patient and kind. She has supported me with care,” says Alexandra, highlighting the value of having someone who believes in her potential.

But Alexandra’s story is also one of loss. Years after leaving Venezuela, she learned that her friend Yeya had been the victim of femicide her fragile body found lifeless by the roadside. The news shattered her faith. “I thought God had forgotten about us,” she says through tears. “But now I believe Yeya is in heaven, watching over me.” She also lost a brother, under circumstances she prefers not to mention. Each loss, however, has only made her stronger.

Today, Alexandra continues to smile. “I’m happy because, despite everything, I’ve had opportunities. SENATIC was one of them. To young people like me, I say: use technology to do good, to grow, to build. Poverty is a mindset; if you set your mind to it, you can overcome anything.”

From a childhood of hunger in Cuatrobocas to the digital classrooms of SENATIC, Alexandra Barroso Palmar’s journey is a testament to resilience, learning and hope. Her voice which once offered poetry as comfort to a hungry child now inspires a generation seeking to transform their future.

© ILO

© ILO