The story of the broken shoes of a Venezuelan teacher who has moved the world



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

A photo of some black shoes with broken sole accompanied the message, which since its publication on June 29 counted 10,000 retweets, about 5,000 likes 400 and almost a thousand comments.

Although very worn, it was the best pair that this professor from the Central University of Venezuela ( UCV public) had, the main of the country with nearly three centuries.

"I'm not afraid to say it: with these shoes I'm transferred to the UCV to teach." the salary of a university professor is not enough to pay the change of sole "years


Bachelor of Social Work, with a master's degree and a doctorate in public health, earns 5.9 million bolivars ($ 1.7 at the rate black market) that do not even reach a kilo of meat because of hyperinflation that, according to the IMF, this year would reach 1,000,000%.

Repair shoes cost him 20 million bolivars, something out of his reach and an example of the distortions of the Venezuelan economy collapsed. [196] 59003] "SHOES OF DIGNITY"
Since he's published the tweet, Ibarra has received donations of shoes – new and used -, clothes, money and hundreds of messages of support that led to the creation of the movement. "The tweet was an explosion of frustration, I thought that as many people did not follow me, no one would see it, but I've already received twelve pairs of people," AFP said. of shoes, of which I donated nine, clothes and money. I created the movement because I continue to receive donations, "said the professor, who kept two pairs of used shoes and new sports shoes

in the social network

Ibarra plans to hand over some of the money received "to the most needy teachers to buy food". Many "fainted because they do not eat well," he laments.

Some of his colleagues at public universities have been intermittently unemployed for nearly a month, demanding better wages.

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

from the neighboring country, a woman writes to him on Twitter: "We have a shoe store in Colombia, we manufacture, how can we send?"

Another user asks you not to be offended, but would like to send you some used shoes. He responds with gratitude.

EXPENDITURE TO PURCHASE A PIZZA
The Ibarra shoes were broken because of the absence of buses, whose fleet was considerably reduced because the Spare parts are rare or not payable.

"Buying shoes is impossible, the money does not pay me to buy personal items, not even food," he said.

Lluvia Habibi, responsible for the store where Ibarra tried to repair his shoes, justifies the high prices "People can hit broken shoes, but almost no one can afford a change of sole, which is already in 20 or 30 million, "Habibi told AFP.

Melancholy, the educator says that he relies on his family to survive. Following the tweet, a friend sent him money from Mexico City to "eat an ice cream or a pizza".

Ibarra claims to have lost 15 pounds of weight fighting the crisis, aggravated by lack of liquidity, control of the economy, US sanctions and the fall in oil production, which contributes to 96 % revenues.

In his house, there is an old sewing machine that his family uses to make clothes and patches. Many have lost weight and can not buy new clothes.

A survey of major Venezuelan universities, including UCV, lifts poverty in the country to 87 percent in 2017, pushing hundreds of thousands to emigrate in recent years, including many teachers .

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

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