Friend, 

Seven years ago, I celebrated my last Christmas with all my family in Venezuela. While I’m with my parents again this season, my grandparents, cousins, uncles, and everyone else in my family are spread thin all over the world. All because Venezuela’s socialist regime forced us to flee.

Here’s my family’s story:

My grandfather was a shoemaker. He started out working for others but then created his own business. He went from being a hand-made shoemaker to owning his own factory.

Our family went from poverty to riches. What does this sound like? The American dream! 

But all of that changed when the socialists took over. 

It wasn’t a violent revolution like Cuba, Russia, or China. This month, 24 years ago, Hugo Chavez was elected to office! 

Once the socialists took control, the economy went downhill. 

Venezuela sits on top of the world’s largest oil reserves. Yet, we had to get in line for hours to get gas in our cars.

Prices rose as the government tried to print its way into prosperity. Eventually, I couldn't fit enough cash in my wallet to go to the movies because the money was so worthless.

Socialists blamed businessmen and greed. The government confiscated businesses and put price controls in place. Shortages became widespread. For a few weeks, there would be no milk. Then it would come back for a few weeks, and then, gone again.

I want to tell my story to high school students around the United States. They need to know the truth about socialism. That’s why I founded the Dissident Project. 

Can you donate $10, $25, or $50 to Young Voice and help us teach the next generation about the dangers of socialism? Click here to donate to support our work >>

Young Voice’s Dissident project brings survivors of tyrannical socialist countries to high schools around the United States to tell our stories. 

We are countering the mainstream narratives about how peaceful and successful socialism can be. Too many young people are taught to believe the United States is an evil, oppressive country and that capitalism is a failure.

Young Voices’ Dissident project has speakers from Hong Kong, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. We all have unique stories that high schoolers must hear. 

My goal is to raise $15,000 by the end of the month to fund our speakers. It costs roughly $1,500 to host a speaking event on a high school campus. 

Your generous gift allows us to keep these talks free of charge for schools. 

Help me share my story with young Americans and tell them about the true horrors of socialism. Click here to send your gift >>>

In the mid to late 20th century, Venezuela was a free and prosperous country. 

Venezuelans had the opportunity to go from rags to riches. Venezuela was the most prosperous Latin American country. Nothing was perfect, of course, but food was on our tables and gifts under our trees every Christmas season.

But socialism ruined our country’s economy and led 7 million of us to flee.

If America were to fall to socialism, it would not fall by bullets but by votes. 
 

The socialist takeover of America can only happen gradually, just like it did in Venezuela.
 

By the time you notice the decay, it will be too late to reverse. Shortages. Skyrocketing crime. Inflation. Christmas away from family because they moved abroad, and video calls every week or every day to catch up with those who left.

We can’t let it happen in America.

Please help me share my story with high school students and help them stop socialist ideas from creeping into our society.

To do that, I need your help. 

Please donate any amount you can generously spare today.
 

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Thank you, 
 

Daniel Di Martino

The Dissident Project is a program of Young Voices, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible and will be acknowledged via email receipt. Donations made to the Dissident Project will be spent exclusively on that program.