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  7. Invisible Portraits In The Northwestern Border Of Ecuador

Invisible portraits in the northwestern border of Ecuador

by Alexandra Escobar

Ecuador

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Palma Real is a rural community in the border of Ecuador & Colombia. It's one of the most violent communities: drug-trafficking, smuggling, arm groups activities take place everyday. 1200 invisible people attempt to survive daily.
Palma Real is a rural community in the border of Ecuador & Colombia. It's one of the most violent communities: drug-trafficking, smuggling, arm groups activities take place everyday. 1200 invisible people attempt to survive daily.
The lack of equal opportunities for Afro-Ecuadorian communities has excluded many generations from the right to education. These young men left school after they finished primary education. Daily, they struggle with the sea as fishermen.
The lack of equal opportunities for Afro-Ecuadorian communities has excluded many generations from the right to education. These young men left school after they finished primary education. Daily, they struggle with the sea as fishermen.
June is an Afro-Colombian migrant, who did not finish school. She met a young man and move to Palma Real. She has three children, two of them where left-behind and his youngest son is struggling to attend to primary education in the local school.
June is an Afro-Colombian migrant, who did not finish school. She met a young man and move to Palma Real. She has three children, two of them where left-behind and his youngest son is struggling to attend to primary education in the local school.
Life gets hard for young people, when education is not an option in these communities. Thus 'other job opportunities' may appear for youth in the border, nonetheless many of them can condemn them to live in margins. The arrival of Colombian armed groups to Ecuador's northern border has permeated those communities with drug-trafficking, and targeted executions. Many young people ended up taking part in the division of labour of narcotraffic.
Life gets hard for young people, when education is not an option in these communities. Thus 'other job opportunities' may appear for youth in the border, nonetheless many of them can condemn them to live in margins. The arrival of Colombian armed groups to Ecuador's northern border has permeated those communities with drug-trafficking, and targeted executions. Many young people ended up taking part in the division of labour of narcotraffic.
Nohely is a black shell picker, with poor literacy skills and who became a mother at a young age. Everyday, when the tide goes out, she digs down for hours into the mangrove mud to look for these black culinary delicacies. Luckily, she will collect 8 dollars per day-work for selling one hundred shells.
Nohely is a black shell picker, with poor literacy skills and who became a mother at a young age. Everyday, when the tide goes out, she digs down for hours into the mangrove mud to look for these black culinary delicacies. Luckily, she will collect 8 dollars per day-work for selling one hundred shells.

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