Ernesto Alfredo i s 11 years old. Ernesto lives in San Marcos, Lake Atitlan. He travels across the water by a small boat each day to work as a ‘shoe- shine’ boy in San Pedro. Ernesto used to go to school, but six months ago his father got sick. Once his father became ill, the family could no longer afford to send Ernesto to school. In fact, his family could no longer continue to survive without the extra income generated from Ernesto starting to work. Ernesto began to work shining shoes on the streets to help his family. Erneesto works every day of the week, walking the streets alone, asking people i f he can shine their shoes. He charges Q2 for a shoe- shine (approx US$0.25). He works every day of the week, and earns around Q25 on a good day (approx US$3 a day). The money that Ernesto earns on the streets of San Pedro he gives to his parents each evening when he returns home. When asked what his dreams are, Ernesto thought for several minutes, as if he had never considered the possibility of dreams. He eventually answered that one day he hopes to become a driver, a chauffeur.
© Anna Fawcus
© Anna Fawcus
© Anna Fawcus
© Anna Fawcus
© Anna Fawcus
All images are © Anna Fawcus 2011 and are part of The Voiceless Majority