Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid (VIA) has released its 2024 Annual Report, a powerful reflection of a year marked by transformation, solidarity, and expanding outreach. From January to December 2024, VIA organized 200 events and directly supported more than 8,000 migrants in person while reaching over 4 million people through Instagram and 113,000 through YouTube.
What continues to define VIA’s work is a deep commitment to the “human touch and sense of community.” Every program, from legal orientations to English classes and peer support circles, was guided by empathy, shared experience, and trust. VIA’s community-driven model empowers migrants by centering their voices and involving them directly as volunteers and leaders. These volunteers, often migrants, became increasingly trained in legal accompaniment and support services, contributing to a compassionate and informed assistance network.
A profound impact in the community
In 2024, legal orientations remained the cornerstone of VIA’s work. With 77 online and in-person sessions, VIA reached approximately 5,500 people who sought to understand their rights and immigration pathways better. At the same time, English classes, particularly Saturday sessions, experienced growing participation, showing that access to language learning remains a vital need for newly arrived migrants.
The organization also prioritized emotional wellness through its Peer Support Program (“Soporte Entre Pares”), offering 35 events that welcomed over 500 participants. These spaces provided a unique form of solidarity for people coping with forced displacement and family separation. VIA’s cultural and recreational activities, English discussion forums, and topical “Conversatorios” on asylum, human trafficking, and migration policy continued to foster knowledge and connection, welcoming nearly 900 attendees across 24 conversations.
Key Partners that make a difference
Collaboration was another central pillar of VIA’s 2024 impact. Partnerships with key institutions such as St. Paul & St. Andrew Methodist Church, PSPP (Pro Se Plus Project), United Healthcare, Co-Counsel NYC, WES, IRC, TENT, Hot Bread Kitchen and ESU-ARNIC expanded the reach and depth of programs. These collaborations increased resources and helped strengthen cross-sector support for migrant communities.
VIA was recognized nationally and internationally as a voice of expertise and advocacy. In 2024, VIA was invited for the third year in a row to teach human rights awareness and forced migration issues in partnership with The School of The New York Times. The organization also participated in the National Immigrant Inclusion Conference (NIIC) in Houston. It was the only community-based organization to speak at the inaugural Hispanic Voices for Human Rights Summit at the Organization of American States.
This year’s report reaffirms VIA’s mission to walk alongside migrants, not as distant service providers, but as part of the community itself. By combining educational tools, advocacy, peer support, and digital outreach, VIA ensures no one faces displacement alone. As the organization looks toward 2025, it remains dedicated to building a more just, informed, and compassionate future.
To learn more about VIA or to support its mission, visit www.vianyc.org.