Venezuela
VenezuelaEmergency response after the 2026 earthquake, supporting young children and families
The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026 left thousands of families without homes and displaced more than 24,000 people into temporary camps and shelters. For babies, toddlers, and young children, the sudden loss of home, familiar routines, and a sense of safety can have a profound impact — making early childhood support an essential part of emergency response.
Early Starters International’s emergency response team arrived in La Guaira on July 21, working alongside local and international partners to ensure that the needs of young children and their caregivers were not overlooked.
Our response combines direct support for children and families with professional capacity building, helping communities meet immediate needs while strengthening their ability to support young children throughout recovery.
Safe Spaces for Children and Families
ESI established and operates pop-up Safe Spaces in temporary camps, shelters, schools, and partner facilities in La Guaira and Caracas.
These visible, welcoming spaces restore structure and a sense of developmental and emotional safety for children living through displacement and uncertainty. Through age-appropriate play, creative expression, movement, and predictable routines, children have opportunities to play, connect, express themselves, and simply experience being children again.
Each Safe Space is staffed by ESI facilitators together with trained local volunteers. Alongside the activities for children, caregivers receive practical parenting support and have a place to rest, connect with others, and access referrals to additional services when needed.
Since the beginning of the response, ESI has operated across seven field sites in La Guaira and Caracas, including temporary camps and shelters as well as school, community, and residential-care settings.
Building Local Capacity
From the outset, our goal has been not only to provide direct support, but also to strengthen the capacity of local professionals and organizations to continue this work.
Through our Train-the-Trainer approach, ESI trains educators, teachers, caregivers, volunteers, and clinical professionals in trauma-informed and play-based methods for supporting young children through crisis.
Training focuses on early childhood development under stress, structured play and creative expression, communication with caregivers, and recognizing when children may need additional professional support. Whenever possible, professional training and mentoring take place alongside direct work with children, allowing participants to put new approaches into practice immediately.
By embedding these tools within local teams and institutions, we aim to ensure that child-centered and trauma-informed support can continue long after the initial emergency response.
Impact in Numbers
● 7 field sites in La Guaira and Caracas
● 25+ Safe Space sessions
● 946+ child session attendances
● 214+ educators, teachers, caregivers, volunteers, and professionals trained
● 8 professional training sessions
Our work in Venezuela is being carried out in collaboration with local and international partners, including B'nai B'rith Venezuela, CADENA, Fundana, Construyendo Futuros, NATAN, and UNICEF.
The experience on the ground has reinforced a principle at the heart of Early Starters International’s work: young children cannot wait until an emergency is over to receive the support they need. Early childhood must be part of humanitarian response from the beginning.
By combining immediate Safe Spaces with caregiver support and investment in local professional capacity, we are helping children and families regain safety, connection, and routine — while contributing to stronger systems of support for the months and years of recovery ahead.
