Alex Witkowicz

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Brandon, 2, plays with a shovel while Rosa, 9, looks for trash to burn. Ana and her baby Abraham look on. The family of seven was recently given the gift of a new home, the blue structure seen behind them, by the charity Nuestros Ahijados. The charity has continued to help the family with food, and has enrolled the two oldest children in school.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Brandon, right, plays while his mother washes clothes. During the day the two oldest children, Randy and Rosa, attend school while their father looks for work.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Brandon, Ana, Abraham and Julio sit on their bed while eating lunch; a soup of rice and vegetables.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Rosa and Brandon dance while their brother Esequiel puts away clothing.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Ana, Brandon, Julio and Abraham share a moment. Julio is unemployed, but says he wants to become a painter.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Julio and Abraham play with a basketball.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

A piece of rusted sheet metal that serves as a gate holds the names of the Raxon family members.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Rosa takes notes during class. Rosa and her brother Randy both attend first grade classes at the Scheel Center School near their home. The Scheel Center is a school for underprivileged Guatemalan children who did not have the means or support to begin school at the traditional age.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Randy waits his turn to run a relay race in the schoolyard of the Scheel Center. Randy’s father, Julio, was only recently released from a two-month stay in an alcohol rehabilitation center. During that time, Randy was left in charge of the family as his mother Ana was gone all day searching for food.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Julio spends time with his youngest sons, Abraham, left, and Brandon. Julio was only recently released from a two-month stay in an alcohol rehabilitation center, leaving his wife Ana to care for their five children. Now that he is home, he promises to find a job.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Esequiel washes in the sink.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Brandon plays a game of pick-up with crushed aluminum cans. 

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Cut in line by a classmate, Rosa waits to have her homework corrected.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Rosa and Esequiel wash after doing chores.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Rosa plays on the bed.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Abraham sits on the floor. During the day, Abraham is mostly by himself. His parents are often looking for work and food or doing chores, and his two oldest siblings are in school.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Rosa uses a hose – the family’s only source of water – to wash herself.

Guatemala, San Felipe, Nuestros Ahijados

Rosa and Brandon share a moment on a hillside overlooking Antigua and the Volcan de Agua.

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