Most Dangerous Ways To School | BOLIVIA | Free Documentary

Summary

El guion narrativo del video presenta la valiente travesía diaria de niños en Bolivia que enfrentan peligros como acantilados, serpientes venenosas y un cable oxidado para asistir a la escuela. Helen y Mariela, dos hermanas que viven en la cima de una montaña, y Elmer, un niño de una familia de agricultores de coca, se arriesgan en arduas rutas para una educación que consideran la clave para una vida mejor lejos de la pobreza. Los maestros Angela y Luis, que viajan por caminos peligrosos, enseñan a los niños en la selva y creen firmemente en la importancia de la educación para cambiar sus destinos.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Los caminos más peligrosos para ir a la escuela en el mundo incluyen travesías por precipicios y condiciones extremas.
• 🏞️ El valle más joven de Bolivia es un lugar único donde las Montañas de los Andes se encuentran con la selva amazónica, hogar de comunidades rurales pobres.
• 🚶‍♀️ Las niñas Helen y Mariela, que viven en la cima de la montaña, enfrentan un viaje peligroso y extenuante para asistir a la escuela.
• 🌄 La familia Kispa vive aislada en la cima de la montaña, enfrentando la pobreza y la soledad, pero con la esperanza de una educación mejor.
• 🎓 La educación es vista como la clave para una vida mejor y una salida de la pobreza por los niños de la selva.
• 🐍 El primer trecho del viaje de las niñas es conocido como la 'Colina de la Serpiente', donde se encuentran con serpientes venenosas.
• 🌉 El niño Elmer y su hermano pequeño deben cruzar un precipicio usando una peligrosa 'línea de zip' para llegar a la escuela.
• 👩‍🏫 La maestra Angela y su colega Luis enfrentan una ruta peligrosa para llegar a la escuela en la selva, motivados por el deseo de enseñar a los niños.
• 🏠 La casa de la familia Rivero, que son agricultores de hoja de coca, muestra una forma de vida diferente, pero igualmente arraigada en la tierra y las tradiciones.
• 🍪 El almuerzo escolar, pagado por el gobierno, es un regalo especial para los niños que a menudo no tienen acceso a alimentos frescos en casa.
• 📚 A pesar de las largas distancias y las dificultades, los niños valoran la escuela y su oportunidad de aprender y mejorar su vida.

Q & A

¿Cuál es la forma más peligrosa de ir a la escuela en el mundo según el guion?

La forma más peligrosa de ir a la escuela mencionada en el guion es cruzar un abismo utilizando un polea oxidada de hierro, a más de 650 pies de profundidad en la región más pobre de Sudamérica.

¿En qué país se encuentra la más joven谷 de Bolivia?

La más joven谷 de Bolivia se encuentra en el país suramericano de Bolivia.

¿Qué desafíos enfrentan los niños de la selva en su camino a la escuela?

Los niños de la selva enfrentan desafíos como el miedo, el hambre y el agotamiento, además de la necesidad de confiar en una polea de hierro oxidada para cruzar un abismo.

¿Qué hora marca el comienzo del día escolar para Helen y Mariela?

El día escolar para Helen y Mariela comienza temprano, a las 5 a.m., en la cima de la montaña.

¿Cuál es el sueño de Helen y Mariela en cuanto a su vida futura?

Helen sueña en ser médica y Mariela en tener su propia granja, con la posibilidad de comprar nuevas cosas como suéteres, pantalones y calcetines.

¿Por qué la madre de Helen y Mariela, Lorenza, valora la educación para sus hijas?

Lorenza valora la educación para sus hijas porque entiende que es su única salida de la pobreza y la posibilidad de tener una vida mejor.

¿Qué animales peligrosos pueden encontrar Helen y Mariela en su camino a la escuela?

Helen y Mariela pueden encontrar nakka nakka, una especie de serpiente de coral, en su camino a la escuela, cuya veneno es peligroso y puede causar parálisis o incluso la muerte.

¿Cómo se llama la familia que vive en la otra parte del valle y que son agricultores de coca?

La familia que vive en la otra parte del valle y que son agricultores de coca se llama la familia Rivero.

¿Qué importancia tiene la coca para la familia Rivero y por qué?

La coca es importante para la familia Rivero porque es la única región en Bolivia donde es legal cultivar la planta y les permite ganar más dinero que con otros cultivos.

¿Qué es la Pachamama y cómo se relaciona con la familia de Elmer?

La Pachamama es una deidad a la que se le rinde culto en la región, considerada madre tierra. La familia de Elmer realiza un ritual anual en su honor, pidiendo bendiciones y agradeciendo por sus dones.

¿Cuál es el desafío que enfrenta Elmer el día que aprende a cruzar el abismo solo?

El desafío que enfrenta Elmer es cruzar el abismo solo utilizando una polea de acero, enfrentándose a su miedo y la posibilidad de un accidente, especialmente con la llegada de una tormenta que hace que el viaje sea aún más peligroso.

¿Cómo es el viaje de ida y vuelta a la escuela para Helen y Mariela y cuánto tiempo les toma?

El viaje de ida y vuelta a la escuela para Helen y Mariela es agotador y peligroso, incluyendo caminar por senderos peligrosos, cruzar colinas y estar expuestas a los elementos naturales. Les toma aproximadamente 13 horas en total, incluyendo el tiempo en la escuela.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Caminos peligrosos a la escuela

El primer párrafo introduce la temática de los caminos más peligrosos del mundo para ir a la escuela. Se describe la valle más joven de Bolivia, donde las montañas Andinas se encuentran con la selva amazónica. Los niños de la selva enfrentan riesgos extremos para asistir a la escuela, como cruzar un abismo de 200 metros de profundidad usando un polea oxidada. La historia de Helen y Mariela, dos hermanas que viven en la pobreza extrema y cuya única esperanza es la educación, se presenta como un ejemplo de esta realidad.

05:01

🐍 El primer desafío: La Colina de la Serpiente

El segundo párrafo narra la primera etapa del viaje de las hermanas, conocida como 'La Colina de la Serpiente', donde se enfrentan al peligro de ser mordidas por serpientes venenosas llamadas 'nakka nakka'. Además, se introduce a la familia Rivero, que vive de cultivar coca legálmente en la región de Yungas, y a los hermanos Elmer y Murphy, quienes deben cruzar un precipicio usando una zip line peligrosa y anticuada.

10:06

🌧️ Luchar contra el tiempo y los elementos

El tercer párrafo sigue la travesía de las hermanas a través de la selva, donde se enfrentan a la necesidad de comer lo que la naturaleza ofrece y se apresuran para no llegar tarde a la escuela. Paralelamente, se narra cómo Elmer se enfrenta a su miedo y cruza la garganta solo por primera vez, enfrentándose a los riesgos de la antigua y desgastada zip line.

15:08

🚌 El viaje de la maestra Angela

El cuarto párrafo presenta el viaje de la maestra Angela, quien se desplaza desde La Paz, la capital más alta del mundo, hasta su escuela en la selva. Se describe el peligroso trayecto en autobús que debe realizar para llegar a su lugar de trabajo, enfrentándose a desafíos geográficos y climáticos, y la motivación que la impulsa a continuar su labor educativa en condiciones tan adversas.

20:12

👟 Camino final hacia la escuela

El quinto párrafo narra el último tramo del viaje de las hermanas Helen y Mariela hacia la escuela, donde se enfrentan a la fatiga y a la precipitación del tiempo, y el reto de llegar a tiempo. Mientras tanto, se describe cómo los hermanos Elmer y Murphy llegan a su escuela en la valle, donde tienen un momento de descanso y juego antes de que comiencen las clases.

25:13

📚 Comenzando el día escolar

El sexto párrafo describe el inicio del día escolar, con las rutinas de gimnasia matutina, la ceremonia de la bandera y la interpretación del himno nacional. Se menciona el apoyo del gobierno a la causa de los agricultores de coca y se destaca la importancia de la educación y la disciplina inculcada en los niños a través de estas actividades.

30:18

🍪 El recreo y la comida escolar

En el séptimo párrafo, se narra cómo los niños disfrutan de su recreo y la comida escolar, que a menudo es la mejor comida del día para muchos de ellos. Se destaca la importancia de la merienda proporcionada por el gobierno y cómo los niños se sienten orgullosos de sus jerseys de fútbol, que también son un regalo del estado.

35:19

🔢 Clases y aprendizaje en la escuela

El octavo párrafo se enfoca en las actividades académicas que ocurren dentro de la escuela, donde los niños atienden clases de distintas materias a pesar de las limitaciones de infraestructura y recursos. Se menciona la difícil situación de los niños que deben trabajar desde pequeños y cómo la educación es una luz de esperanza para cambiar su futuro.

40:19

🌅 La vuelta a casa: un reto más

El noveno párrafo narra el reto de volver a casa para los niños, especialmente para Helen y Mariela, quienes deben enfrentarse a un camino aún más árduo y peligroso, subiendo la colina y llegando a casa después de una larga jornada escolar. Se describe cómo las actividades del hogar y las responsabilidades familiares esperan por ellos al final del día.

45:20

🌄 La ritualidad y los deseos de futuro

El décimo párrafo concluye la narrativa con la descripción de las actividades de fin de semana en las que los niños participan, como el ritual Pachamama de la familia de Elmer, y cómo los deseos de los niños se centran en mejorar sus vidas a través de la educación y la realización de sus sueños profesionales.

Keywords

💡Caminos peligrosos

Se refiere a las rutas que los niños deben recorrer para ir a la escuela, que son extremadamente peligrosas y a menudo resultan en riesgos para la vida. En el video, este término es central ya que ilustra las dificultades que enfrentan los niños en Bolivia para obtener una educación básica.

💡Educación

Es el derecho y la oportunidad de aprender y adquirir conocimientos. En el contexto del video, la educación es vista como una herramienta para escapar de la pobreza y mejorar el futuro de los niños, a pesar de los riesgos que deben correr para alcanzar la escuela.

💡Pobreza

Estado de falta de recursos económicos o materiales para satisfacer necesidades básicas. En el video, la pobreza afecta a la mayoría de la población rural boliviana y es una de las razones por las que los niños deben enfrentar caminos peligrosos para asistir a la escuela, buscando una vida mejor.

💡Yungas

Región de Bolivia donde se localiza la selva y es el escenario principal del video. Es notable por su paisaje único y peligroso, donde las montañas de los Andes se encuentran con la selva amazónica, y es donde los niños deben atravesar arduos caminos para asistir a la escuela.

💡Rodela

Una instalación que permite a las personas cruzar un abismo o cañón utilizando un sistema de cables. En el video, los niños deben confiar en una rodela desgastada y peligrosa para llegar a la escuela, destacando el riesgo que implica su camino diario.

💡Cocaleros

Personas que cultivan y trabajan con la coca, una planta legal en ciertos lugares de Bolivia. En el video, la familia Rivero son cocaleros y su trabajo es una fuente de ingresos, aunque no es el sueño de Elmer, quien aspira a ser constructor de casas.

💡Pachamama

Es una deidad o espíritu de la tierra, común en las religiones andinas, a la que se le rinde culto en ceremonias como la descrita en el video. La ritual de Pachamama que se realiza en la familia de Elmer es un ejemplo de las prácticas culturales que se mantienen en la región.

💡Ciudad de La Paz

Capital de Bolivia y la ciudad más alta del mundo. En el video, Angela, una de las maestras, viaja desde La Paz hacia la selva para enseñar a los niños, enfrentándose a un viaje peligroso y fatigoso que requiere de gran compromiso y sacrificio.

💡Caña de azúcar

Una planta que provee un líquido dulce y ácido, utilizado por las hermanas Helen y Mariela como alimento en su larga travesía. Ejemplifica cómo los niños se aprovechan de los recursos naturales para sobrevivir en su difícil camino a la escuela.

💡Ciudad-jungle

Dos mundos muy diferentes que representan el contraste de vida en Bolivia. En el video, se muestra cómo los niños y los maestros se mueven entre la ciudad de La Paz y la selva de los Yungas, enfrentándose a desafíos y riesgos en su búsqueda de educación.

💡Ceremonia de la bandera

Un rito que se realiza en la escuela y que busca enseñar disciplina a los niños. En el video, se destaca cómo la ceremonia es una parte importante de la vida escolar y cómo refleja los valores y la estructura social del país.

Highlights

Children in Bolivia risk their lives daily to attend school, emphasizing the value placed on education for a better future.

In the Yungas Valley, children must cross a ravine 650 feet deep using a rusty iron pulley to get to school.

Nine-year-old Helen and seven-year-old Mariela walk for two and a half hours through dangerous terrain to reach their school.

The children's journey involves crossing 'snake hill,' where they encounter venomous coral snakes.

Seven-year-old Elmer and his four-year-old brother Murphy use a homemade zip line to cross a gorge 650 feet above the ground.

Elmer's first solo ride on the zip line is a significant milestone and a dangerous test of courage.

In La Paz, teacher Angela, at 63, travels weekly on one of the most dangerous routes in the country to teach in the jungle.

The route from La Paz to the jungle school involves descending nearly 10,000 feet over a distance of only 37 miles.

Angela's journey highlights the dedication of teachers who risk their lives to ensure children receive an education.

At the school, 29 children from ages 4 to 13 attend classes taught by two teachers in two rooms.

Despite the difficulties, children like Helen and Mariela are motivated by dreams of becoming professionals, like doctors, to escape poverty.

Bolivia is the only country where child labor is legal starting at age 10, impacting many children's ability to attend school.

The government's support includes providing meals and school supplies, which are often the children's best meal of the day and most valued possessions.

After a long school day, the children's journey home is equally challenging, with Helen and Mariela walking uphill for three hours.

The Pachamama ritual performed by Elmer's family symbolizes their hopes for a prosperous future and underscores the cultural significance of their connection to the land.

Transcripts

we all know it walked it every day

[Music]

but none of them were like these

the world's most dangerous ways to

school

[Music]

freezing climbing

risking their lives all for the chance

of a better future spectacular and

sometimes simply beautiful the world's

most dangerous ways to score the

youngest Valley in Bolivia a unique

landscape where the Andes Mountains meet

the Amazon rainforest

[Music]

in this remote section of one of the

poorest countries in South America

education is not easily accessible for

the children of the jungle it's the key

to a new better world and that's why

they run great risks every day in

pursuit of it their only way to school

leads over a ravine over his 650 feet

deep the children and trust their lives

to a rusty iron pulley

[Music]

fear hunger and exhaustion are their

constant companions

[Music]

[Music]

high up on the summit of the mountain

range is where the kispa family lives

isolated and in the heart of the jungle

it's 5 a.m. up on the mountain the

school day begins especially early

nine-year-old helen and 7 year old

Mariela have a long walk ahead of them

two and a half hours of all the children

who attend the school the sisters live

farthest away the girls live in extreme

poverty as does 60% of Bolivia's rural

population but the hardest thing for

them is their solitary life on the

mountaintop all their friends live down

in the valley and the long journey to

school is exhausting and dangerous Helen

and Malala dream of what it would be

like to leave the mountain and their

poverty behind

[Music]

I want to become a doctor but I put

Attalus be in this to give people good

team let's go man

[Music]

make them healthy I want my own farm yo

girl boo-boos and new things yo I'd buy

sweaters and pants and socks the sisters

are growing up without their father he

left them for a new family their mother

Lorenza who experienced jobs as a day

laborer it's the only way she can feed

her children

[Music]

Lorenza herself only went to primary

school but she wants her girls to study

as much and as long as possible

education is their only way out of

poverty

[Music]

is the other hand becomes when I work

all day and have hardly any time for the

girls

it's terrible but I can't do anything

about it I hope they have a good life

that they live in a nice house find good

husbands and have happy families the

girls know that a good education is

their best chance for a life far removed

from misery and that it can open the

door to a better future it's six o'clock

school starts in two and a half hours

Helen and Marilla have a long day ahead

of them

[Music]

the sisters call the first stage of

their journey the snake hill they've

often seen the nakka nakka a species of

coral snake in the high grass

the snakes are hard to spot as most of

them are only 7 to 12 inches long and

their venom makes them even more

dangerous it causes paralysis and can

even lead to death

[Music]

look I were afraid of the snakes here

and said I want to hit the grass with

snakes to chase them away better STD

send Helen and Molly gala tried to cross

over the snake hill as quickly as

possible they know that if they were to

get bitten up here on the mountain help

would arrive for them too late

meanwhile on the other side of the

valley

the Rivero family our coca farmers like

so many people in the Yungas this is the

only region in Bolivia where it's legal

to grow the plant

[Music]

seven-year-old Elmer and his

four-year-old brother Murphy do get to

sleep in until 6:30 boys it's time to

get up every morning

Elmer has to cross the gorge somewhere

else

where you don't have to use a dangerous

cable to go to school is very good or a

finger width steel cable leads from his

house across the valley a kind of

homemade zip line

it's about 650 feet above the ground and

already 30 years old it's the only way

to school it takes a whole day to walk

to the next bridge

[Music]

before going to school Elmo has to help

with the coca harvest the moist warm

climate of the Yungas is also ideal for

coffee and citrus fruit but with coca

Elmer's family can make much more money

two hundred and eighty dollars a month

five times as much as Helen and Maria's

family what should I do

help me with the weeding according to

Elmer's father coca from the Yungas is

not used to make cocaine there is a

tradition with coca leaves in Bolivia

dating back centuries people chew on

them and make tea or medicine from them

not that I don't want to become a cocoa

farmer it's a lot of work that clever

harder I'd rather be in and build house

and it opens today and I'd like to build

a pretty ears you know custody in a

half-hour

Elmer has to get going over the garage

[Music]

the sisters Helen and Mariela can

breathe easy they've made it over the

snake hill now they're entering the

thick forest

[Music]

the girls have grown up in the jungle

they know its dangers but also its tiny

treasures

after walking for three quarters of an

hour the sisters need a snack they like

the food at school best there's often

fruit and yogurt but when they're really

hungry they eat what the forest provides

sugar cane contains a sweet-and-sour

fluid albeit only one small sip for the

long night all right dad taught us this

it's a plant you can chew but it tastes

like sugar when you chew it it's almost

7:00

the gurgles need to hurry yet they still

have more than half the way to go

meanwhile Elmer and his little brother

are starting off on their dangerous way

to school boys don't forget your

backpacks don't dawdle and be careful

[Applause]

it's a very special day for Elmer today

the seven-year-old will learn to fly for

the first time in his life he will cross

the gorge alone a stone in the earth

that's all that's holding the homemade

zipline in place

four thin wires about 1,000 feet across

the valley

after 30 years they're rather worn out

rusted and sagging the police scare me

the most

sometimes I imagined I would once Elmer

broke his finger on the journey across

the gorge

[Music]

it was really windy I panicked and touch

the cable the wheel went over my fear

normally Elmer goes across the gorge on

his father's lap today for the very

first time ill hang from the steel cable

all alone

[Music]

more bit healthy I'm old enough then too

heavy for my dad

what is I'll make it that dictator thing

isn't loving what they present

mr. Elmer I'll tie this tight it's dope

but Ozzy but the road needs to go up

here around your back yes with the most

pious come on man and the other one is

for your feet like a harness hold the

knot here yes don't I mean and the bag

here is like a seat but I get the way

the scent that make it not like this

Elmer's entire weight is now resting on

the war in plastic bag he could fall out

at any moment

several people from the region have

already fallen to their death that way

don't touch the cable

first a test run Elmer's father wants to

see if his son will panic

[Music]

suddenly a storm draws near the sagging

cable starts blowing in the wind

[Music]

one though when the wind is too strong

the Puli moves slower you don't get

enough speed to make it to the other

side with that much headwind he could

end up hanging in the middle we have to

be really careful with a storm like this

lightning could strike the cable okay

anyone on the zipline would get

electrocuted

[Music]

Elmer's ride gets a riskier every minute

meanwhile in La Paz at 11,000 800 feet

above sea level

it's the highest capital city in the

world this is where another long

formidable way to school starts the

teachers journey every week 63 year old

Angela commutes between two worlds her

home in the big city and her school in

the jungle oh boy I do it all for the

children I want to help them learn a

thing and I understand being I'm not

putting this out here before

Angela sets off with only the bare

necessities in her bag one of the most

dangerous routes in the entire country

lies ahead of her

[Music]

her first destination the bus station in

La Paz

hola good morning

Angela's colleague Luis goes with her

[Music]

together they run the school and teach

the children let's find a taxi

how much 70 bolivianos maybe a bit less

is that the inferno there non-display

this never had well okay

about $10 for a drive on one of the most

dangerous routes in the world that's a

lot of money in Bolivia the government

covers the cost for the two teachers on

the way they'll descend almost ten

thousand feet from the highlands of the

Andes to the edge of the Amazon basin

unhhhh Helen Lewis and the driver Carlos

must cross the Andes the route

unpredictable along crumbling rock faces

and steep slopes

at 63 Angela actually could have retired

long ago but one thought drives her to

take this risky route every week she

knows she can help the students make

their way out of the jungle

the biggest danger lurks in the sky a

thick wall of fog descends on the

mountains Carlos the driver is tense

he's seen a lot of accidents on this

road

[Music]

little party I mooch on the Avena it's

really dangerous with this much farther

than early you never know what's coming

where are these

there are often landslides and rocks

fall on the street the most dangerous

part of the route is yet to come many

people have lost their lives here

back to Helen and Mariela they're

relieved finally they're going downhill

for a short safe stretch in the

afternoon the sisters will have to hike

back up the path they're running down

now when they get to school differs from

day to day the girls don't have a watch

[Music]

at this waterfall the girls know they've

made it halfway Helen and raghida take a

short break

the water has made the sharp stone

slippery

Helen's old shoes are much too small for

her and her toes her we want to play in

the water

the girls enjoy the waterfall at home on

the mountain there's only just enough

rainwater for a quick wash

they can't afford to lose too much time

otherwise they'll get to school too late

then a lot more water comes down from

above than the sisters would like we're

getting all wet here between the Andes

in the Amazon the weather can change

within minutes Helen and Mariela climb

under a rock ledge the girls don't know

how long they'll be stranded here or if

they'll make it to school on time

I'm ready great on the other side of the

valley

the rain has passed by Elmer is ready

for his first flight alone on the steel

cable

his father checks all the knots one last

time we can't stay a father-son team

forever the time has come to let him go

nice time with my liquid s discourses

Elmas father poor figlio goes ahead

Elmer is right behind

[Music]

yeah keep going go it's almost over

we're almost there by myself

soon you'll be flying over the gorge

alone done this trip has buoyed Ellmers

courage he has overcome his fear of the

steel cable his brother on the other

hand is still too young for this test I

felt like a bird I flew it was really

fast they know she that they'll be

enticed they'll all be well then I felt

the wind and I flew the way Ellmers

little brother still rides over the

gorge on his father's lamb

tied on with only a piece of cloth from

here the boys have to proceed on foot

the teachers Angela and Lewis are

approaching the most dangerous part of

the drive to school

[Music]

the dirt road leading toward the jungle

it descends nearly ten thousand feet

over a distance of only 37 miles

[Music]

the road barely wider than the car

itself

[Music]

the driver stays as close as he can to

the rock wall on the other side the road

drop saw two thousand feet traffic

coming from the opposite direction means

mortal danger in that case the car must

drive in reverse to one of the rare

sections of Road that are somewhat wider

[Music]

yo Moyes nikomina gotta finish each week

the journey is a real stress on me but

it's very dangerous so panel I do it all

for the children so they can learn

something is happy

crosses remind the teachers of the

constant danger several hundred people

have gone off the road and plunged into

the abyss many on this very curve it

drops off thousands of feet into a

crater water falls from above fall

directly under the street if the ground

softens too much it can give way under

the weight of the car and carry those

inside to certain death

carlos drives the minivan very carefully

along the cliff edge

finally it's over the drive down one of

the most dangerous roads in the world

[Music]

uncle Aaron Lewis have a week of

teaching ahead of them during that time

they'll live at the school

[Music]

in the heart of the Yungas jungle

there are two very simple bedrooms for

the teachers not to be compared with

their apartments in the big city before

opening the classrooms they'll take a

short rest it's 7:45 a.m. school begins

at 8:30

[Music]

Helen and Malala have made it through

the jungle the street in front of them

leads to school

one more hour on foot time is running

short the girls have got to walk faster

if they want to be on time

[Music]

meanwhile the temperature has risen to

86 degrees Fahrenheit the girls trudged

wearily along the asphalt they ought to

be wide awake and especially careful

though as the street has treacherous

curves and is heavily traveled

the girls are slowly running out of

energy we get tired when we walk so far

we never must go so it's hot it can be

pull off now and again in the puddles

it's been long

the school is still two and a half miles

away to the girls the road feels endless

[Music]

after a half-mile walk Elmer and his

brother reached their destination

[Music]

the point they Adam our school in the

middle of the valley

[Music]

there a couple of minutes early

the teachers are sleeping and haven't

opened the doors yet but that's no

problem

on the contrary I like playing a bit

before school starts

that power soccer field is my favorite

place Helen and little Mariela are out

of energy

but then something truly unusual happens

[Music]

an acquaintance of their mother spots

the two girls on the side of the road

what luck on the motorbike they have a

chance to get to school on time

[Music]

to be sure the streets here are also

anything but harmless but Helen and

Mariela are simply happy that they don't

have to walk as long as they get to ride

they don't care about the traffic and

the dust clouds

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

done the sisters are almost at their

destination they have rested their feet

for a few minutes a rare luxury

[Music]

now school awaits them

[Music]

they're happy for class to start but

also to finally see their friends again

these are the two most important things

in the sisters lives

Mariela is in one classroom with Elmer

and his brother

[Music]

[Applause]

helen is in a second classroom hiren the

older kids in the school are in her room

in total 29 children attend the school

ranging in age from 4 to 13 the day

begins with morning gymnastics time to

March standstill every Monday at the

flag ceremony the teachers announced the

government's latest organizational plans

today for example that the school will

soon get a new classroom

in addition angela emphasizes how much

the president supports the cause of the

coca farmers

[Music]

then the most important item on the

agenda the national anthem

[Applause]

the weekly ceremony is meant to teach

the children discipline at an early age

each week one child is allowed to raise

the flag for the little ones it's a big

honor

finally after 45 minutes of standing at

attention class begins there are six

classes but only two teachers and two

rooms so each room has three classes in

it and they all work on different

subjects at the same time in this room

art Spanish

and nature studies the first six years

of school are free and technically

compulsory but especially in rural

regions many children have to work from

an early age and thus skip school

bolivia is the only country in the world

in which child labor is legal starting

at the age of 10

what medicinal plants do you know think

about it after what medicinal plant do

you know Daniel coca coca what does it

help with stomachaches

then comes the students favorite part of

the day lunch the government pays for

cookies bananas and chilled juice

[Music]

it's a very special treat for the kids

as hardly any of the families own a

refrigerator por Mariela and Helen this

is often the best meal of the day at

home they usually only get bread and tea

the family can't afford sweets at all

[Music]

so I love lunch times and afterward I

play soccer with my friends the children

are especially proud of their soccer

jerseys also a gift from the government

each child gets an outfit with their

name on it it's usually the children's

most expensive and favorite article of

clothing Lewis teaches in the second

classroom

today's schedule includes social studies

religion and math what's 4 times 14

Lewis also teaches three classes

simultaneously many of the students have

to walk a long way to school but no one

walks as far as Helen and Mariela

and their walk home lasts even longer

that's why it's often hard for

nine-year-old Helen to keep up with the

other children at home she has little

time to study for tests but she works

hard for her dream of one day becoming a

doctor

[Music]

very often the children are exhausted

sometimes they fall asleep during class

many children don't get home until late

especially Helen and Mariela they

usually don't manage to get their

homework done

the girls love their few hours at school

it's often the only time they have to

just be children the way home is much

more difficult I'm tired for schools and

we have to go uphill at home I helped my

mom take care of my little brother and I

have to do the laundry 2:00 p.m. school

is over

while the other children wait for the

rain shower to pass Helen and Mariela

head off as quickly as possible they

have to be home again before dark

otherwise they might get lost in the

jungle the way home is much more arduous

than the way to school now they've got

to go uphill

[Music]

there one bit of comfort the leaves of

the thick forest shield them from the

rain the climb takes them three hours

[Music]

the boys are also on the way back home

they have to hurry up because there's a

special ritual at home tonight on the

plantation but four year old poor video

is dead tired from school missed again

it's nice to have a little person I like

taking care of I help him when he falls

[Music]

Elma carries his brother the whole way

to the edge of the gorge

[Music]

the children cannot take the zipline

without their father they're not strong

enough to pull themselves to the other

side in case of an emergency

[Music]

hi boys how are you

that was school

there are two cables strung across the

gorge the cable for the way back starts

a little higher up and is thicker

here all three of them can fly together

but to do so

the father would need to hold on to both

of the boys at the same time like on the

way there

Elmo flies with his own pulley little

porphyrios father fastens him to his own

body the piece of cloth

[Music]

[Music]

made it after one of the world's most

dangerous journeys to and from school

Elmer and his little brother

are back safe at home hi mom

tonight the family will perform the

Pachamama ritual once a year the coca

farmers from the neighborhood get

together and pray to mother earth their

supreme deity

[Music]

they give thanks for their gifts and

asked for a good harvest happiness and

health

the boy's father core video builds a

kind of altar with various offerings

[Music]

Helen and Mariela wished simply to make

it back home again it was a long day for

the sisters they have been on their feet

for 13 hours the girls feet and knees

ache

[Music]

it's 5:00 p.m. the Sun will go down soon

it gets pitch dark quickly in the forest

then the girls wouldn't be able to see

where they're going anymore they could

get lost or fall down the slope

[Music]

the girls are exhausted

with their last bit of strength they

make it to the summit of the mountain

they are home

[Music]

hi relax a little bit

the day ends with a modest dinner

the girls are tired but happy and I'm

exhausted but tomorrow we'll take the

same path like every day the girls

always keep their goal in mind to get an

education for a better life far from the

mountain and from poverty at the

Pachamama ritual seven-year-old Elmer

prays for a good and happy future when

he will be an engineer one day Elmer's

father drizzles pure alcohol on the

motley collection of offerings

Erbs llama wool tinsel and figurines

made of sugar

later the family will bury the ashes in

the ground in that way they send their

offerings and their wishes to Mother

Earth one day

Elmer would like to build bridges for

the inhabitants of the valley so that no

child has to risk its life simply to go

to school

[Music]