DUMPSITE CHILDHOODS


  • Photographer
    Javier Sanchez-Monge Escardo
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Company/Studios
    PERIODISTAS EN ESPAÑOL
  • Date of Photograph
    12/2/2012
  • Technical Info
    1/60SEC/F16/ISO 50

Oblivious to their surroundings, the children of the dumpsite force themselves to carry on with their lives just like any other child would, playing, loving, crying or laughing. Since they are just children and they were born into that world, they all believe that this is what the world and life is about. Their childhood however, is far from privileged; as soon as they are able, they will have to work hard by scavenging for plastic bottles, metal scraps or any other rests thrown away by the more privileged part of society.

Story

Oblivious to their surroundings, the children of the dumpsite force themselves to carry on
with their lives just like any other child would, playing, loving, crying or laughing.
Since they are just children and they were born into that world, they all believe that
this is what the world and life is about.
Their childhood however, is far from
privileged; as soon as they are able, they will have to work hard by scavenging for
plastic bottles, metal scraps or any other rests thrown away by the more privileged part
of society.
Their meals will consist mainly of rice and the only proteins at their reach will come
from an occasional frog, rat ,lizard or snake caught by them or their parents. As
newborns, the child mortality is high and most of the children are continuously coughing
as if they were smokers, since day and night they breathe toxic smoke and fumes coming
from the burning of garbage and plastic. Many have chronic illnesses, external and
internal parasites, and have no doctor to go to. The water they drink is contaminated, and diarrhea combined with dehydration can turn fatal.
Their involvement in child labor prevents them from going to school and therefore from becoming something else in life but scavengers.
It is only later, when they become teenagers and learn on how the rest of the human
society discriminates them, when will know what their fate was meant to be.

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