a reflection of the crisis

José Ibarra exploded with indignation when he saw that the arrangement of his old shoes cost four times his salary as a university professor in Venezuela . He did it with a rude message in Twitter that awakened solidarity.

An image of black shoes with broken soles accompanied the message, which since its publication on June 29 counted 10,000 retweets, 5,400 likes and nearly 1,000 comments.

Although very worn out, was the best couple who had this professor from Central University of Venezuela (UCV, public), the main of the country with almost three centuries.

"I'm not afraid to say it: with these shoes I transferred to UCV to teach, my university professor salary is not enough to pay the change of sole ", writes the teacher, 41

Graduate in social work, with a master's degree and doctoral student in public health, he earns 5.9 million bolivars ($ 1,7 at the rate black market) that do not even reach a kilogram of meat due to hyperinflation which, according to the IMF, this year, it would reach 1 000 000%

Repair of shoes it cost him 20 million bolivars which was out of his reach and an example of the distortions of the collapse of the Venezuelan economy.

Dignity "

Since he's published the tweet, Ibarra has received donations of shoes – new and used -, clothing, money and hundreds of messages of support that led him to create the movement ", to help other colleagues, according to AFP .

"The tweet was an explosion of frustration.I thought a lot of people would not follow me, no one would see it, but I already got twelve pairs of shoes, of which I gave nine, clothes and money.I created the movement because I still receive donations, "said the professor, who kept two pairs of used shoes and new sports shoes.

Incidentally, he won 2,900 followers on the social network.

Ibarra plans to deliver some of the "Many have fainted because they do not eat well", he laments.

Some of his colleagues from public universities have been unemployed for nearly a month, demanding improvements.

The case of Ibarra has had repercussions even outside Venezuela, with offers of donations since Argentina, Colombia and Spain .

From the neighboring country, a woman wrote on Twitter: "We have a shoe store in Colombia, we repair and manufacture. How can we send? "

Another user asks him" not to be offended ", but he would like to send him used shoes He responds with gratitude

Walk for lack of bus

Ibarra shoes they were broken by so many steps because of lack of bus, whose fleet has been significantly reduced because spare parts are rare or not payable.

"The purchase of shoes is impossible. do not pay to buy personal items, not even food, "he said.

Lluvia Habibi, shop manager where Ibarra was trying to repair his shoes, justifies the high prices because the materials never stop. "People can stick broken shoes, but almost no one can afford a change of sole, which is already in 20 or 30 million," said Habibi to AFP .

Melancholic, the educator says that Mexico was told by his friend to "eat an ice cream or pizza"

Ibarra claims to have lost 15 pounds against the crisis of Venezuela aggravated by the lack of liquidity, the control of the economy, the American sanctions and the fall of the oil production, which contributes to 96% of the receipts. 19659003] In his house there is an old sewing machine that his family Lia uses to sew clothing and apply patches. Many have lost weight and can not buy new clothes.

A study of the main Venezuelan universities, including UCV, brought the poverty in the country to 87% in 2017, which has pushed hundreds of thousands to emigrate in recent years, among them many of them. # 39; teachers.

But Ibarra wants to stay. He believes that " Venezuela is recoverable."

AFP