Today was my first day back to La Chureca. It was an interesting day, filled with new information and new knowledge about the children, their families and the community in general. My translator Carmen, Juan-Carlos (one of the Los Quinchos boys and employee) and I went visited some of the kids at their homes and talked to their parents. On our way back to the center, I saw the little boy that I photographed last year walking in his grime covered clothes. He caught my attention then because I saw nothing but sadness in his eyes and when I studied the photograph I took of him last year the look in his eyes continued to haunt me.

We stopped to talk to him. His name is Jeremiah and he’s 11 years old. He’s living at La Chureca with his father, step mom and three younger siblings.  He said he wanted to go to school, but his dad told him he's got to work in the field.  When he's not out in the field working, he's home taking care of his younger siblings or ripping plastic bags.  He said his step mother often physically abused him and his father too and the only one that he can turn to is his aunt who also lives in La Chureca. 

My trip back here was to learn more about the community and my students' families...I don't know how much information I can gather because even talking to them, there were information that  they are not honest about.  They claimed not to send their children to work in the fields, but my photos tell me a different story.  I've taken photos of one of my students out in the field with his older silbings alongside him. I know that this project is not something that is short term and honestly I have no idea where it will take me...but for now, I'm doing what I think I can do...Jeremiah with his aunt from his mother's side and her family. He turns to her for comfort, saying that she's the only one that truly loves him.

When Jeremiah is not out in the field working, he rips plastic bags at home to recycle them