“I get up at 5am and go to work. I don't like it because I get dirty.”
In the heart of Guatemala City’s bustling La Terminal market, surrounded by the noise of trade and the smoke of burning coal, Cristina’s life unfolds. Home is a small, windowless room that she shares with her father, which is no more than a few metres wide. There is a single lightbulb, and any water costs extra.
At just 11 years old, Cristina has always known work. Her parents are both recyclers at the rubbish dump close to La Terminal. After they separated, she stayed with her father and began working alongside him. “We have to work to live,” she shares.
Cristina shares her daily routine. “I get up at 5am and go to work,” she says. “I used to clean barrels, but now I fill and move bags of coal. I finish at 6pm. I don’t like it because I get dirty.”
But in the middle of the dust and pressure of the market, a small shift began when Cristina met Puerta de Esperanza - Toybox’s partner in Guatemala. “They help us a lot,” she says. “With food, and by accompanying me to school so I don’t miss it. They treat me well.”
Pictured below: (L) Cristina with her mother as she works at the rubbish dump at La Terminal. (R) Carlos, a member of the Puerta de Esperanza team, visits Cristina while she works.
Cristina attends a Toybox-supported project, which focuses on helping children and young people engage in education, with the active support of their parents or caregivers. Through outreach at their workplaces, the project helps children return to school and stay committed to their studies. Weekly workshops and quarterly outings are organised to aid the children’s development, while parents and caregivers receive guidance to help create a more supportive and encouraging home environment.
Cristina’s proudly shares what she has learned at the project so far; “Now I can read and write." That simple statement carries the weight of real change - a glimpse of a different kind of life beginning to take shape.
Cristina says she enjoys maths, and although she insists she doesn’t know what else she is good at, it is clear she holds more ability than she realises.
Life at La Terminal is far from easy. Cristina describes seeing the effects of hunger, drugs, and children growing up too fast. But in the chaos, she holds onto the people who matter most to her: “My dad, my mum, my nieces, my nephews, and my brothers.” When asked what she values most, she replies: “The love of my mum and dad.”
Cristina says her favourite place is the beach — the sea, the fresh air, and the space to play. Here, she can just be a child.
For now, Cristina says she doesn’t have a clear dream for the future beyond her current life. The routines of work and survival are all she’s known. But with the continued support and encouragement of the Puerta de Esperanza team, there is hope is that she will begin to imagine new possibilities, and believe she deserves to chase them.
Pictured below: Cristina with friends, taking part in a workshop on leadership and self-confidence delivered by Puerta de Esperanza.
