Live For Better Days
By Tayler Aubin
6 Apr 2009
On April 2nd 2009 I met Claudia (11) and her sisters, Carmen (10) and Mercedes (7). They live in a small 3 building rental made of scrap steel and wood with a communal courtyard and dirt floors and a surprisingly beautiful view of Ciudad Vieja and the volcanos that surround. Living with them are their brothers and other young kids from near by homes. Claudia and her mother grabbed a ride from us to the local dump in Alotenango. Once there, they toiled mercilessly under the hot sun sifting burning trash to find plastic, aluminum and other scrap metals as well as games, toys and clothing. The girls have been in and out of school for the past several years but their parents need the income they make collecting trash so school has never been a priority. Both Claudia and Carmen have such angry faces, and their voices sounded as if they were 30, most likely due to constantly breathing in black smoke from burning trash. The group consists of the two sisters, two other girls from their shared home, Claudia and Carmens mom, and a man. All together they collect around 160 quetzalas a week. Which turns out to be $20, split between 3 families.
I found this family with the help from The God's Child Project for trafficked, exploited and missing persons.The project is concerned that the girls have had very little formal education and that the next logical step in their development will to become prostitutes at one of the local brothels. I was told from Charlie, who heads the project, that they may already have had some physical or sexual abuse. Being there changed me. I've always heard of these types of things, but actually being there with them was totally different. I smelled what they smelled, I coughed when they coughed, I felt what they felt. With the help of the God's Child Project and the incredible people that work with them these girls might have the smallest glimmer of hope.
26 responses
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dominic serrao gave props (7 Apr 2009):
Great photos...wonderful touching story... my vote!
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Prasanna kundu gave props (7 Apr 2009):
A Story WORTH publishing!!!
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Paula Herr said (7 Apr 2009):
Wonderful photos Tayler... and a subject that more people should know about... keep up the good work.
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Lenny Reisner said (7 Apr 2009):
it's a great story tayler. i'd like to learn more about industry there and what trade/business/thing has brought people to this. great shots.
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Lenny Reisner gave props (7 Apr 2009):
props too.
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Nikia Lane gave props (7 Apr 2009):
very nice work, photos look great...a story everyone needs to know.
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Ed Cyr gave props (7 Apr 2009):
very touching story, excellent images
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Jessica Lehrer gave props (7 Apr 2009):
really great stuff, tay.
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Kaycee Cho gave props (7 Apr 2009):
Tayler these are some amazing photos and a very touching story. I hope the word is spread for this organization.
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Ari Rosenberg said (7 Apr 2009):
These incredible photos come with a powerful and touching story. Deserves recognition for a good cause.
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Ari Rosenberg gave props (7 Apr 2009):
incredible imagery
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Jahntiel Puerta gave props (8 Apr 2009):
Dude ilike what your doing, its so sad the way kids over there work their asses off because most likely their parents had gone through the same situation and have no way out of this cycle of poverty, and believe it or not there are way too many families like this in south america, all ican say is keep doing your thang, u capture their struggle so well
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Catherine Corbett said (8 Apr 2009):
The already strong desire to teach thankfulness for what you have.
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Curtis Poer gave props (8 Apr 2009):
amazing work !
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chris fortin gave props (8 Apr 2009):
Well done
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Joseph Burwell gave props (8 Apr 2009):
Taylor - Good work! Thank you for being willing to share this as it's something that should not go unnoticed. Keep it up!
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Jason Nichols gave props (8 Apr 2009):
excellent job on both photos and the story! important stuff!!
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Sean Nakamura gave props (8 Apr 2009):
yo, kaycee told me about this. Good work man. I hope this goes far.
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morgan burkhardt gave props (8 Apr 2009):
Tayler i really enjoy your work, I believe you have a lot of talent. Best of luck winning the competition. Bring it home for MBTA
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Cheryl Cho said (8 Apr 2009):
Taylor,
You should be submitting to National Geographic, your photos are that great!
Cheryl Cho (Kaycee's Mama) -
sav cam said (9 Apr 2009):
awesome story and incredible photos
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Mandi Bowden gave props (9 Apr 2009):
Tayler you are so talented and so lucky to have gotten this opportunity! Keep up the good work cousin! :)
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Marci Provancal gave props (10 Apr 2009):
JUST AMAZING GOOD LUCK
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Jeremy Fraga said (15 Apr 2009):
sick stuff tayler
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JoAnna Webb said (19 Apr 2009):
This needs to be published. I'm definatly going to check out God's Child project now. Thank you for sharing Taylor.
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Jane Johnson gave props (21 Apr 2009):
Fantastic story...needs to be published!
