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Carmela and the Walkers

 
 

Carmen Carcelén

Carmela is an Afro-Ecuadorian woman who lives near the Ecuador–Colombia border with her husband and eight children. Since 2018, she has opened her home to thousands of Venezuelan migrants making the long journey on foot—families, pregnant women, children, and the elderly. Despite receiving no humanitarian aid, Carmela continues to offer shelter, food, and care every day. Her generosity and commitment are a powerful act of resistance and compassion.

 
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Help Carmela and her family continue opening their home to migrants in need.

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In an Ecuadorian border town, Carmela, a fearless Afro-Ecuadorian, offers food and shelter to Venezuelan migrants arriving on foot. Her home is a hub for a constant flow of people she supports through cross-border trades with Colombia – frequently by unconventional means. When events unexpectedly impact her, Carmela’s resilience is tested, but her bravery in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, combined with an unwillingness to let those in need down, are a testament to her strength and goodness. Strikingly captured in black and white, the film captures a world defined by hardship and hope. It’s a vivid, unforgettable portrait of solidarity in a world where the line between right and wrong is not always clear.

According to the Working Group for Refugees and Migrants (GTRM), Ecuador hosts the fourth highest number of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America.

Your support will help fund community actions that raise awareness about the vital work Carmela and other grassroots shelters are doing across Ecuador. The goal is to encourage local and national authorities—as well as the communities hosting the largest number of Venezuelan migrants—to take concrete steps in supporting these humanitarian spaces. Funds will go toward efforts that push for food donations, better infrastructure, improved hygiene, and safer conditions for the people who rely on these shelters every day. This is about standing with those who stand for others.