Nicaragua, Managua, in tha market so named “Mayoreo”. A boy cleaning the windshields of cars for few pesos per day. In Central America and especially in Nicaragua, although compulsory education is planned up to 12 years, according to World Bank estimates, around 10% of children under 18 years living and working on the street. According to recent studies, approximately 320,000 children and young people between 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work.

Paolo Marchetti

Requiem Child

In Nicaragua the economic and social precariousness often induces parents to definitive and extreme choices. The illusion of a better future means that they leave their children to be subjected to various forms of violence, thus forcing them to give up schooling and pushing them into the heart of harsh experiences. In Central America and especially in Nicaragua, although compulsory education is planned up to 12 years, according to World Bank estimates, around 10% of children under 18 years living and working on the street. According to recent studies, approximately 320,000 children and young people between 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work. Three out of five Nicaraguan children working in agriculture. Others roaming the streets of Managua, cleaning the windshields of cars for a couple of pesos. In Managua nearly 1,000 children live on the largest garbage dump in Central America, “The Chureca” where rummage in search of food or recyclable materials, which can later resell on the streets of the city. Thousands of homeless children roam the streets without food, without the possibility of education and without the support of a family. Most of them sniff glue. Rampant is the phenomenon of “pandillas”, gangs made up of boys who often end up killed or detained in various prisons in the country. But Nicaragua only represent a small slice of pie, in fact in all the world this phenomenon is huge. For instance the estimation of working children aged 5 to 17 years amounts to 215 million, 115 million are involved in the worst forms of child labor (Source: ILO).
 Many suffer harassment, physical violence, psychological and sexual abuse inflicted particularly by “employers”. For 2011, the ILO (International Labour Organization) will also focus on the most dangerous forms of work, those that would seriously damage the health, safety or the psyche of children. The United Nations estimates that every year between 500 million to one billion and a half of children all over the world are subjected to some kind of violence, from the obligation to work enslaving, to the most various forms of exploitation and abuse, such as recruitment into gangs , prostitution or worse the experience of detention in prisons, devoid of rehabilitative programs and reintegration into society. 150 million girls and 73 million children are forced into sexual intercourse. In the world about 215 million children have to work to help their families of origin or survive. Children under the age of 14 who work are 176 million. 1 million children are detained in prison, this estimate is probably much lower than it is in reality, since often are not available informations on juvenile detainees awaiting trial.


Nicaragua, in a little village in the rural zone so called “Los Guatuzos”. Here a little girl with her parents in a disco of the village In rural areas, the destiny of the youngest includes their employment in agriculture, the main livelihood activities in this type of reality away from the big cities.

Nicaragua, Managua city, may 2011.The gratest landfill in Central America so named “Chureca”, Rigoberto Ernandez, 11 years old. He started to work in the landfill at 8 years old with his mother and his sister. Thousands of children working here, along with their families but often, the recycling activities within the landfill, involving children living on the streets without family and trying to get their daily sustenance.

Tipitapa prison, may 2011, Nicaragua.Accused of rape. Fernando, 17 years old, inside the recreational classroom. He must serve 5 years again for murder.

Nicaragua, in rural area “Los Guatuzos”, the extreme south of the country. Ander, 7 years old, works in the cocoa plantation of his father. Three out of five Nicaraguan children working in agriculture.

Nicaragua, Managua, in tha market so named “Mayoreo”. A boy sells garlic on behalf of his father. In Central America and especially in Nicaragua, although compulsory education is planned up to 12 years, according to World Bank estimates, around 10% of children under 18 years living and working on the street. According to recent studies, approximately 320,000 children and young people between 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work.

Nicaragua, Managua streets. Boys roaming the streets of Managua, cleaning the windshields of cars for a couple of pesos. here on the left Osvaldo, 8 years and on the right Pablito, 12. They live on the streets, sniffing glue and trying to get food, day by day.

Nicaragua, Managua streets. In Nicaragua, although compulsory education is planned up to 12 years, according to World Bank estimates, more than two thousands of children living on the street.

Nicaragua, Bluefields, may 2011.Reintegrative activities and sports for the underage incarcerated in the prison of Bluefiled.

Nicaragua, Managua streets. Boys roaming the streets of Managua, cleaning the windshields of cars for a couple of pesos. here Heriberto, 10 years old. He lives on the streets, sniffing glue and trying to get food, day by day.

Nicaragua, Bluefields, may 2011. Inside the cell of “El Dragon” 20 years old, in the underage incarcerated section of the Bluefiled prison. He must serve for 1 year again. Accused of rape.

Nicaragua, Managua, in tha market so named “Mayoreo”. A boy cleaning the windshields of cars for few pesos per day. In Central America and especially in Nicaragua, although compulsory education is planned up to 12 years, according to World Bank estimates, around 10% of children under 18 years living and working on the street. According to recent studies, approximately 320,000 children and young people between 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work.

Nicaragua, Managua city. Rampant is the phenomenon of “pandillas”, gangs made up of boys who often end up killed or detained in various prisons in the country.

Nicaragua, Tipitapa. A boy uploading wicker baskets on the roof of the bus, in the market of Tipitapa. In Central America and especially in Nicaragua, although compulsory education is planned up to 12 years, according to World Bank estimates, around 10% of children under 18 years working in many different contexts, especially in thos realities far away form the big cities.

Nicaragua, close to Managua. Violence is a prominent element in the functioning of all societies in Central America.Up to 90 years’ 29% of all homicides recorded in Latin America were committed by young people aged between 10 and 19 years, while 34% were made ​​by young people between 20 and 29 years.Inside the cell number 4 in the underaged section of the prison.

Tipitapa prison, may 2011, Nicaragua. Up to 90 years’ 29% of all homicides recorded in Latin America were committed by young people aged between 10 and 19 years, while 34% were made by young people between 20 and 29 years. Felix Flores, 16 years old, inside his cell. He must serve 5 years again for murder.

Nicaragua, Granada, few Kilometers from Managua. Angela, 17, works as a prostitute in the streets of Granada for a year. According to recent studies, approximately 320,000 children and young people between 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work. In all the world the estimation of working children aged 5 to 17 years amounts to 215 million, 115 million are involved in the worst forms of child labor (Source: ILO).
 Many suffer harassment, physical violence, psychological and sexual abuse inflicted particularly by “employers”.

Nicaragua, Managua city. The gratest landfill in Central America so named “Chureca”. Two brothers have started to work in the landfill some years ago with their parents. Thousands of children working here, along with their families but often, the recycling activities within the landfill, involving children living on the streets without family and trying to get their daily sustenance.

Nicaragua, Managua streets. Osvaldo, 8 years, lives in the streets of Managua, begging for a few pesos in order to provide the glue he sniffs, now for about four years.

Nicaragua, in rural area “Los Guatuzos”, the extreme south of the country. Here Rico, 9 years old, works in the coultivated fields, all day, for three years already. Three out of five Nicaraguan children working in agriculture.

Bio

Paolo Marchetti is based in Italy. He has worked for thirteen years in the cinema industry. In his photography he pays particular attention to political and anthropological issues. He has covered stories in Brazil, Central America, Cuba, Eastern Europe, India, the United States, Haiti, China, Central Africa, Colombia etc.

He publishes his work in international magazines such as L’Espresso, Vanity Fair, 6MOIS, Sunday Times, British Journal of Photojournalism, The Guardian, Geo, Der Spiegel, Newsweek, CNN, New York Times, Time etc.

Marchetti has received several awards such as 5 times the NPPA – Best of Photojournalism, 4 times the PDN’s Award, the Sony WPO Award, the Getty Images Grant, finalist at the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, 4 awards at the POYi, the American Photography Annual Book, the ANI Pix-Palace, the Leica Photographer Award, the SDN – Social Documentary Network, the Alexia Foundation Grant and the World Press Photo etc.

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Paolo Marchetti