The beginning of spring, season of change, saw the departure of one diaspora youth intern and the arrival of the next. In this interview, Nicha Phannajit passes the baton to Julio César Croce Martínez who will be with the team until the end of July. Read on to learn about Julio’s journey and plans for the internship and beyond.  

Julio is a Venezuelan immigrant who used to live in Peru, and moved to the Netherlands to pursue his higher education journey. During the overlapping month with EUDiF, Julio and Nicha sat down to talk about Julio’s journey and familiarity with the migrating world, as well as his expectations for the months ahead…

Nicha Phannajit: Julio, you have told me that you think your lived experience is really valuable in pursuing your career, could you share a bit more about your background?   

Julio César Croce Martínez: Yes of course, I am Julio, I am 26 years old and I left Venezuela when I was 18 due to the humanitarian crisis. I left alone, meaning I left my family, friends, and everything behind. First, I crossed the border to Colombia, stayed 3 months there, then I decided to go to Peru to pursue better opportunities. 

After 4 years in Peru, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. As a young immigrant, it was a tough time and difficult to handle it by myself. However, from these hard moments, an opportunity came to come to Europe to study for a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. 

It has been 8 years since I left Venezuela and I have not been able to go back, but I have been blessed with opportunities to visit my family since they are also immigrants. Most live in Mexico and my mother has lived in Spain since 2022. 

This journey has been like a rollercoaster for me, with plenty of ups and downs, and many unexpected events. 

NP: Thank you Julio for sharing a small part of your personal story; I am glad you were able to see your family again throughout the years. How has the experience living in the diaspora shaped your perspective on migration and community building? 

JC: Being part of the diaspora did not impact me at the beginning of my journey, because I did not realize how complex it is to understand that your identity is shaped differently according to the destination you go and how you interact with the society of the country hosting you. I was very young, and these elements were not that clear to me. 

I have started to think about it gradually, especially during my last year in Peru, and then shifting my life to Europe with a different status. I came to the Netherlands with a student visa and the opportunity to study in this bachelor’s program, while I entered Peru via ground borders with very limited possibilities due to my migrant status.

In my studies I have learned the theoretical part of migration, types of migration flows, and what diaspora means alongside other societal phenomena. This helped me to understand in a deeper sense the experiences that I had as an immigrant, as I merge those experiences with the theory and knowledge from my studies. 

Although my sense of being part of a community came later in my journey, I now feel a strong drive to reconnect with my roots, and support those who face similar challenges. Even from afar, I am committed to finding ways to give back and support those who are in need.

NP: That’s very interesting – I definitely relate to the idea that being in the diaspora pushes you to think more about community and what it means. When it comes to the challenges of adapting to a new country, how has that affected you personally and professionally? 

JC: One of the biggest challenges I faced was social pressure—not just from others, but also from within. I felt the need to adapt and fit in, believing it would open up more opportunities. It is that familiar struggle that many immigrants face: going through the idea of the ‘good’ vs. the ‘bad’ migrant.

I was desperate to belong to that group of good migrants and not be portrayed as a bad migrant. 

With time and a deeper understanding of migration and societal dynamics, I do not carry that mindset anymore. You’re a migrant. Period. That identity stands on its own and doesn’t need to be excused, defended or shaped to meet anyone’s expectations.

I now have a more rounded view of my intersectional identity, and that happened thanks to all the experiences I had as an immigrant. It was not an easy path, but I am thankful it happened the way it happened because it made me who I am today.

NP: What can you tell me about the Venezuelan diaspora now, and how does it contribute to the global conversation about migration and displacement?  

JC: The Venezuelan diaspora is relatively new. It emerged as a result of the ongoing humanitarian crisis that began in the early 2000s. Over the years, Venezuelan migration waves have increased exponentially—especially after the economic collapse in 2016, and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has created a huge impact in the Latin American and Caribbean regions and now in the context of the EU, it has impacted Spain due to its migration history. 

I think it is important to acknowledge that Venezuela—which used to be the host of many immigrants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and other Latin American countries—turned  into a country of mass emigration. I think it is relevant to study how migration patterns can shift in such a short time frame and to analyse the impact in countries of destination and heritage. I would like to compare this case with other countries that face forced displacement. 

NP: Thank you so much, Julio, I feel like I am learning a lot about Venezuela through you! I know a bit now about your motivations to study, but how about EUDiF? What motivated you to pursue this internship? 

JC: This internship is a valuable opportunity to explore a topic dear to my heart—migration. For my bachelor’s thesis, I am mapping Venezuelan diaspora organizations in Spain. The university allows for alternative thesis formats, so my project can go beyond a traditional academic paper. The insights I’ve gained so far through this internship at EUDiF have influenced my approach:  

I plan to design a workshop to share my findings, encourage dialogue, and explore ways to turn my research into actionable support for the Venezuelan diaspora. I am eager to gain deeper insights into the migration and diaspora field and start building visibility in this space. My goal is to dedicate my professional career to this area, with a strong focus on Latin America. I am also keen to engage in projects, attend events, network, and develop skills in project management, I see this as an essential step toward building a meaningful and impactful career in migration and diaspora work.  

Passing the baton

JC: Now Nicha, since you already know the ropes: Looking back at your time in this internship, what were the most valuable learning experiences and what is your key advice that can be useful to me during this internship?         

NP: Professionally, I’ve learned a lot from this team—not just about diaspora engagement, but also how they manage projects with a strong sense of intercultural understanding. As diaspora members themselves, their approach really impressed me. I’ve developed both soft and hard skills, and I am confident it will be a valuable experience for you as well.

In terms of advice, I would say that communication is everything, and the team helped me to learn that because they provided a safe space for me, without any worries of feeling judged or for making any mistake. I wish I could have taken that to heart sooner—they were very conscious from the beginning and they told me, but I could not help it being cautious! I really wish that you communicate openly from the start. 

Please take this internship as a learning experience. Remember there is no right or wrong, just be open for learning and constructive feedback. Enjoy the process!

JC: This is really insightful and I appreciate your honesty, Nicha. I will take this into account, and I am grateful I had this opportunity of sharing this first month with you. Thank you.

NP: Thank you very much, Julio, for this wonderful interaction, I am sure you will have a wonderful learning experience at EUDiF and our paths will cross in the alumni network!