This Boy Never Gives Up

What would you do if you can't find a job at a public nor private institution? What would happen if you have not enough money to set up your own business?... Well, if work doesn't look for you then you must go out to look for it.

This time I would like to share with you my friends something about a young man who also work on streets of Chimbote city. His name is Richard Castañeda and lives very close to downtown. He likes art (make pictures) since he was about 5 years old. The sun already fell down in Chimbote and Richard is willing to share with with me about what he does for a living.

Through years he improved by himself his ability for art. Well, time went by and since 2003 Richard went out to streets of downtown of Chimbote to work showing others his gift to make pictures on sidewalks only using colored chalks.

He is young and has talent and is using it (his best asset) to earn some money to live in a legal way. He tells me police sometimes does not allow him work on sidewalk and when it happens he has to leave it just when he was about to finish his picture. But he doesn't give up and as soon as possible looks for another sidewalk to keep working on it.

A friend of his, as Richard works, encourages people passing by there to give some money telling: "Please, collaborate with art." Some people collaborate and some people don't. "Paving Art" is what he is doing.

Richard tells me that in countries such as: Spain, Italy, France, etc authorities of cities do not obstruct these artists on the contrary they give them some support. For example, he continues, the government of Brazil assists people who are keen on "Paving Art" because this is a way for they to avoid young people fall into drugs, robbery, etc.

Richard would like mayor of Chimbote to gives them a exclusive place for them to be able to work and if it is not possible he would just like police to allow them work on sidewalks all along. About 3 years ago, Richard set up a picture exhibition on a street of Chimbote which gathered artists of other cities just like him who were able to show their art works.

On the other hand, Richard would like to study at "Nice Arts" school and to invite some people to perform art workshops here in Chimbote to avoid that young people waste their lives falling into bad ways. Good example to follow, keep on going Richard !!!

Streets, a Place to Work

This little boy is 13 years old and his name is Jacín Zair Eizaguirre. He still looks like a child but however has enough strength to face hard life conditions that is living in his early years of life. He was born in Tocache, a town located very far away from Chimbote in the Jungle of Perú. His entire family (parents and 3 brothers) moved to Chimbote hoping to improve their life conditions. Presently, they have rented a room to live, 10 min away from downtown.

Unfortunately, things here in Chimbote are not easy for them. His dad has no work and his mom is only a housewife. Jacín studied until 6th grade in a public primary school in his hometown. There are many needs at home and money is not enough to cover all expenses. That's why Jacín has to work on streets of downtown to show, people passing through here, his abilities using swords.

He is working now in a corner comprised by two main avenues of Chimbote, Bolognesi and Galvez Avenues. When traffic lights are in red he takes advantage of this very little moment, only a few seconds, to do some jugglings in front of drivers and people inside cars as they are waiting for the traffic lights to change in color.

When he finishes his presentation he approaches to most cars to ask for some money as a colaboration for him and gives to his mom all money that gets. He told me that he loves his family so much and would like to do some presentations related to puppets, comedy, jugglings, etc to make people laug. He would like to have his own program on TV in future. This boy is a good example of courage.

Street Art

A few days ago in the morning, as I was walking on "Villavicencio" street (third block) next to the Public Square of Chimbote, I saw a young man doing a picture on sidewalk. I approached him and I started talking to know what he was doing there. He told me that his name is Kevin and is 18 years old. He lives in "La Libertad" neighborhood located 15 min. away from downtown, by car. Also, he lives with his mom, sisters and brothers (8 people in total). His dad abandoned them when Kevin was a little boy.

He finished high school and after that started studying Architecture at a local university but only studied a semester and soon had to leave university because his family had no enough money for him to continue to study only for food and basic expenses. Well, he did not give up, on the contrary he start going by streets around the Public Square to do some pictures on sidewalks using colored chalks and dusts for it.

Now he is drawing a picture about a little boy and as he is doing this I can see that he is in focus on the picture and lets to flow the gift he has for the art. He would like to study plastic arts at Fine Arts School in Trujillo, a city located 2 hours away from Chimbote, north and would like to be a teacher on plastic arts to promote it. Unfortunately, he can't study in that school because he has no money for that.

As he is drawing the picture, one friend of his, named 28-year-old Matías, holds a can asking people for some money. He gives to his mom the money that he gets. You can see Kevin around here from Monday to Saturday, at mornings 8:00 am - 1:00pm and at afternoons 4:00 pm - 9:00pm. Undoubtedly, this young man has talent for art.

Medical Campaign by People from USA

February 23-27, 2009 I have seen many American people gathered in a Medical Center called "Santa Ana" and a parish (of the same name) next to it, which are located in "Fraternidad" neighborhood, 5 minutes away from downtown.

So I went there to find out what was going on. Well, I discovered that a team, made up of 47 people (gynecologists, pediatricians, dentists, nurses, among others) came to Chimbote city to perform a Medical Campaign for free headed to the poorest of this neighborhood and others. (to read more... go below video)

Team members are from Minnesota in USA and were using this slogan: "Los Amigos Medical Aid" (LAMA) The leaders of this team (benefactors) are Mr Tony Brama and his wife Mrs Dorothy Brama. This is not their first time doing this social work here in Chimbote and are planing to do it once more. They all are very happy to be able to contribute to get better the health of residents, specially of those who has no access to health services.

They were offering the following specialties: Medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, dentistry, rheumatology, pharmacy, ultrasound. They attended 550 patients per day on average. There were 17 patients scheduled for operation. Neighbors are very thankful and want them to keep doing this all the time because a lot of people are sick and don't go to the hospital because don't have money.