Hi John,

In case you missed our message earlier today, we’re sharing stories of the people behind the data at IPA. It’s also the last day to make a tax-deductible donation in 2020, so please consider making a gift if you are in a position to do so.

Aimara (pictured at left) works for IPA in Colombia, but isn't Colombian originally. She’s one of 1.8 million Venezuelans who fled over the border into Colombia. An important question facing many countries around the world that host millions of migrants is how they can be integrated in a way that will benefit them and the local economy. In a bold move in 2018, Colombia granted work permits and access to the healthcare system to Venezuelan migrants in the country, including Aimara.

IPA is now working to learn whether documented migrants with access to formal jobs and healthcare fared better, and what happened to them when COVID-19 hit. But studying a migratory and undocumented population is difficult. Aimara helped to build and train a survey team of Venezuelan migrants that knew how to contact and communicate with other migrants around the country. A psychologist also trained Aimara and her colleagues to ask questions in a sensitive manner, while also dealing with emotions that surfaced from their own, often similar, experiences.

Having staff like Aimara at IPA is key to our ability to gather high-quality data. Aimara now manages a team of Venezuelan researchers (some recruited by her) trained by IPA to do this important work. She said, “I’m grateful to IPA for giving me the opportunity to work on a project that will have an impact on my community.”

Today is the last day to make a tax-deductible donation in 2020. We hope you’ll join in supporting high-quality research to find solutions to the world’s toughest problems.

Final chance to make a tax-deductible donation in 2020! Donate now