Home / Who We Are
Our story · Our people
A community caring for two homes at once.
The Venezuelan Community in Ireland (VCI) is a registered Irish charity (Reg. No. 20206241) founded by and for Venezuelans living in Ireland. We support our community here, champion Venezuelan culture and identity, and act as a trusted bridge between the diaspora and verified humanitarian organisations operating on the ground in Venezuela.
Mission & Vision
Solidarity that travels across the Atlantic.
Our mission is to support the Venezuelan community in Ireland, and to mobilise solidarity, funding and long-term humanitarian support for the most vulnerable people in Venezuela — particularly children, women and families affected by crisis.
Our vision is a Venezuelan community that belongs fully in Ireland, keeps its culture alive across generations, and remains a reliable bridge of hope for those still facing hardship at home.
Bridging Ireland & Venezuela
From kitchen tables to a registered charity
How it began
Born from a need too large to ignore.
As Venezuela’s humanitarian emergency deepened and more than five million people fled the country, Venezuelans arriving in Ireland found one another — first online, then around kitchen tables — and started organising.
What began as informal collections of food and medicine grew into structured campaigns delivered through established NGOs on the ground. Today we are a registered Irish charity coordinating cultural events, integration support, and a steady pipeline of humanitarian aid.
What guides us
The values behind every decision.
Dignity first
We treat the people we serve — at home and abroad — as partners, never as cases. Aid is delivered with respect and humanity.
Transparency
Every euro is channelled through accountable, established NGOs. Donors can trust that support reaches the families who need it.
Belonging
We help newcomers feel at home in Ireland while keeping Venezuelan culture and identity alive for the next generation.
The three pillars
One community, three commitments.
Everything we do is anchored in three pillars that work together — caring for Venezuela, building belonging in Ireland, and protecting our shared culture.
Humanitarian Aid
Aid for Venezuela
We act as the link between Venezuelan NGOs and Irish donors, moving food and medical support to communities facing a prolonged emergency. Our partners run community kitchens, school-meal schemes and health services on the ground.
Integration
Belonging in Ireland
Through orientation, peer support and inclusion activities, we help Venezuelans of every age take part in the economic, social and cultural life of Ireland — from young people to older migrants.
Culture
Keeping identity alive
We celebrate and share Venezuelan customs and values — food, music, art and tradition — so heritage is passed on to children growing up in Ireland and shared warmly with their new neighbours.
How we work
From solidarity to measurable impact.
We keep our model simple and accountable: raise support in Ireland, deliver it through trusted partners in Venezuela, and report back on what it achieved.
Step 01
Mobilise the diaspora
Community events and campaigns in Ireland raise funds, awareness and volunteers.
Step 02
Partner with trusted NGOs
Support is routed to established Venezuelan organisations with reach and accountability.
Step 03
Deliver on the ground
Meals, medicines and health services reach families in the communities that need them most.
Step 04
Report the impact
We share verified results so donors can see the difference their solidarity makes.
Our people
Volunteers and a board who give their time.
VCI is governed by a Board of Directors and run day-to-day by a small, dedicated team of volunteers. As a 100%-volunteer-led organisation, every donation we receive goes further — with minimal overhead and maximum impact on the ground.
F
Francisco Astudillo
President · Strategy & governance
As Chairperson, Francisco brings a structured, data-driven approach to community cohesion and advocacy. A Strategic Consultant and Industrial Engineer, he keeps VCI’s operations sustainable and well organised; a karate practitioner and coach, he leads with resilience, focus and mentorship — blending analytical rigour with a commitment to bridging cultures so members can thrive in Ireland.
A
Ana
Treasurer · Finance & reporting
A
Amelia Márquez
Secretary · Records & compliance
Amelia Márquez is a psychologist (Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, UCAB) and a Team Leader at Tinteán Housing Association. She supports people with complex needs — homelessness, gender-based violence, mental health, addiction and neurodiversity — through a person-centred, trauma-informed approach, bringing that experience in coordination and psychosocial support to strengthening the Venezuelan community in Ireland.
K
Korahiza
Vice Chair · Board
Venezuelan-born and living in Ireland for 40 years, Korahiza has been self-employed since the age of 22 — from running a fish and chip shop to owning and running a company in the United States alongside her husband. Now retired in Ireland and devoted to charitable work, she is the current president of a Rotary Club in Kildare.
Beyond the Board, VCI is powered by volunteers who give their time and professional skills to keep the organisation running and growing — from the technical side (building and maintaining this website, managing our CRM and donor systems) to social media and communications, event organisation and fundraising. It is this volunteer effort that lets VCI operate with the reach and credibility of a modern non-profit, at minimal cost.
Registered charity. The Venezuelan Community in Ireland is a registered humanitarian charity in Ireland, Registration No. 20206241. We operate transparently and welcome enquiries about our governance at info@venezuelancommunity.org.
Our track record
What our community has helped deliver.
70,000+
Meals provided to children living in poverty in Venezuela
17,000+
Patients given medical check-ups and assistance through our partners
680 kg
Medicines and medical supplies channelled to hospitals and clinics
57
Social inclusion and cultural events for the community in Ireland
June 2026
Our response to the 2026 earthquake.
When the earthquakes struck on 24 June 2026, VCI activated an emergency response. Working through our partner network, we channelled the funds raised in Ireland toward the most urgent needs — emergency shelter, medical care and child protection support. That appeal has since closed, and the support it raised now flows through our ongoing humanitarian programmes.
Emergency response · June 2026