“I am a young Venezuelan woman who left her country”: exploring the drivers of Venezuelan migration and how the migration experience impacts adolescent girls’ aspirations

Venezuela’s geopolitical and economic crisis has forced many Venezuelans, including adolescent girls, to migrate.

The aim is to examine: (1) what prompted adolescent girls’ decision to migrate and how future aspirations influenced that decision; and (2) how the migration experience impacted aspirations. The overall goal is to identify the unique needs of displaced Venezuelan adolescent girls to adapt programmes and services to better support them in achieving their aspirations.

Migration experiences were collected in Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil in January to April of 2022 as part of the parent study. We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of micronarratives from adolescent girls using an inductive approach.

From the 188 micronarratives, themes of agency and aspirations for a better future were prominent, along with pregnancy being a motivator to migrate. Participants articulated their fears and how they navigated those, the lack of accessible resources, as well as what made them feel supported, like feeling welcomed and loved by those in the community.

Although adolescent girls demonstrated resourcefulness and resilience, specific programs, and services to meet their unique needs are still necessary. Displaced girls are often vulnerable to barriers in accessing goods and services during the migration route and in their host community. Venezuelan adolescent girls need to be key stakeholders in interventions to develop effective programmes that support them in every step of their migration journey.