In Ecuador, every day hundreds of Venezuelan migrants cross the northern border in search of a better future. Pregnant women with their children, older adults, single men, teenagers and others walk along the roads, carrying with them the hope of a dignified life and the uncertainty of what the road ahead holds for them. Between encounters and misunderstandings, this difficult decision confronts them with realities that transform their lives forever.

This short film is part of the documentary series “Caminantes: Lives that Matter”, produced by the Audiovisual Cooperative Una Casa en el Camino. The story centers on Antonia, a Venezuelan woman who, for the past two years, has been living in an abandoned school in Monte Sinai, an impoverished area of Guayaquil. During the 2020 pandemic, this place became a refuge for many Venezuelan families who, like Antonia, were looking for a roof over their heads.

Antonia lives with her two children, resisting with strength and hope. Although her greatest desire is to return to Venezuela, she has been slowly building a new life in Ecuador. Her days are marked by the struggle to achieve her goals: to have a house of her own, a safe place to raise her children and, above all, a stable future. Despite the difficulties, Antonia does not lose faith. Her story is a testimony of resilience, a reminder that, even in the most adverse circumstances, hope and love for family can be drivers of change.

“Walkers: Lives that Matter” not only portrays the reality of those who migrate, but also invites us to look beyond the numbers and statistics, to encounter the human stories that beat behind every step, every glance and every dream. Because, in the end, we are all travelers in search of a place to call home.