A Venezuelan couple is calling on the Pembina Valley for assistance in raising funds for legal expenses, after fleeing the turbulent political conditions in their home country.

In early May, Luis Orlando Hernández Pérez, 34, and his wife Barbara, 25, travelled from Venezuela to Canada. They flew from Caracas, the country's capital, to Chicago, Ill., where they stayed for three days. Then they took a bus to Minneapolis, Minn., and on to Grand Forks, N.D. From there they had an Uber vehicle drive them to the Gretna border.

The pair crossed the border illegally but immediately sought guidance from local police to navigate Canada's immigration services.

On June 17, they will hold a fundraiser, called Cakes and Arepas For Freedom, at Seeds of Life Church in Altona, with support from Build a Village. Their goal is to raise around $2,000. There will be an auction of cakes, made by Barbara who is a baker.

"The fundraiser is about getting donations to pay for lawyer fees because we don't have that kind of money, so we need some help from people here in Altona," Luis said.

He added that it's a chance for community members to learn about traditional Venezuelan food, such as arepas -- pockets made from corn dough with filling inside.

He described the situation in Venezuela, noting that there is limited to no access to water, medicine, electricity and internet.

"The government is a bad government," he said. "Now we are a poor, poor, poor country because the government is too corrupt."

More than three million Venezuelans have left the South American country in recent years due to political tension between Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido.

Maduro was elected in April 2013, and shortly after the economy began to spiral. Many Venezuelans blame he and his socialist government for the downfall. He was then re-elected for a second six-year term in May 2018. However, many opposition candidates had been barred from running, jailed or fled the country in fear.

As a result, many domestic and international political leaders and governments have contested the legitimacy of his leadership. Venezuela's constitution says in such cases the head of the National Assembly is required to adopt the role as acting president, which is why Guaido stepped in on January 23 and declared himself president.
More than 50 countries have recognized Guaido as the legitimate president, but the Venezuelan government has yet to rest in the hands of one leader/party.