Singaporean volunteer Jun Han Tham shares how he offered language support to Venezuela’s earthquake rescue efforts
When earthquakes struck Venezuela in June 2026, Singaporean citizen Jun Han Tham looked for a way to help from afar. With his language skills, he volunteered to support rescue teams that needed translation and interpretation assistance during search and rescue efforts.
As part of the “Thank You, Singapore”, a series from the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Singapore, Jun Han shared his experience of volunteering remotely to assist rescue teams with translation and interpretation support.
After learning about the situation and efforts to identify people with relevant language skills, Jun Han registered on a digital platform and made himself available to assist rescue teams remotely in their search for survivors.
“Upon waking to the heartbreaking news and seeing the scale of the destruction, I felt compelled to find ways to contribute,” Jun Han said. With proficiency in Spanish, Russian and Turkish, he offered his assistance in the hope that he could help facilitate communication during the rescue efforts.
For Jun Han, the experience was also a reminder of the solidarity that can emerge during difficult times. He said the support shown by Venezuelans and people around the world gave him hope and highlighted the importance of standing together during a crisis.
“My thoughts remain with Venezuela and all those affected,” he said. “I sincerely hope that, amid this difficult time, they receive the support, care and solidarity needed to rebuild their lives.”
Although his contribution was made from Singapore, Jun Han’s willingness to make his skills available reflects how individual efforts can support humanitarian work across borders.
Source: Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Singapore
