A 6-year-old girl named Nawal Victoria Roa has captured hearts across Colombia after donating her life savings to aid victims of a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 280 people.
Nawal Victoria visited a local relief center in Medellín on Wednesday, where she presented a can filled with coins – her piggy bank – to TikToker @bynatyvflorece, who had initiated a donation drive for those affected by the tremors. The influencer shared a video of the moment, which quickly went viral.
"It's absolutely filled," the social media influencer said in the video, as a shy Nawal Victoria looked on. "With this we can buy a lot of things. Oh, I love you." The child then received cheers and a hug from volunteers and residents present.
Nawal Victoria's mother, Karen Villanova, told The Post that her daughters typically fill their piggy banks each December to buy gifts for less fortunate children. However, they were unable to do so last year as Karen was recovering from surgery. Nawal Victoria had been saving to buy a new bicycle, but after Monday's earthquake, she understood her savings were needed for a more critical cause.
Villanova expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support for her daughter, stating, "When we set out to help, we weren’t looking for cameras, recognition, or an audience. We went simply with the desire to serve and bring a little love amidst so much pain."
She added, "Today I understand that perhaps God allowed so many people to see – through a little girl -something that goes far beyond a video: that when we sow love, faith, and generosity in our children, one day we will see that seed begin to bear fruit."
The earthquake, which occurred on Monday, injured at least 4,000 people and affected over 100,000, primarily in the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions. Search and rescue teams have been working to locate hundreds of missing individuals.
President Abelardo de la Espriella visited Chocó, the earthquake's epicenter, on Friday. "From Chocó, I stand with the families affected by the emergency," he stated on X. "This government has but one absolute priority: to mobilize the full capacity of the state so that we can overcome this situation together."
On Thursday, first responders recovered the body of 23-year-old Isabella Saavedra, one of three triplets who died when their home collapsed in Cali. Her parents, uncle, and sister Sofía were also killed in the incident. Isabella's twin sister, Ana María, was the sole survivor and is recovering from multiple injuries, including a fractured pelvis.
