Reflection Essay
The book entitled Conquistadores de la Calle: Child Street Labor in Guatemala City talked about the result of the enthnographic study conducted on the streets of Guatemala. Generally, the problem of child street labor in Guatemala City and in other regions is attributed to poverty. However, Offit’s book and documentations revealed that there is much more than poverty that prevents the young people of Guatemala to pursue their education. The author conducted an inside look on the lives of street children in Guatemala city and provided the readers with a different insight about the lives of young workers, not only in this particular city, but also in other developing countries.
I think that the author deserves an enormous amount of commendation for his effort to conduct a study and come up with a documentation about what he found by working with the street children of Guatemala City. In other documentations and studies on street children, most people are exposed to a life condition of helplessness and negativity. However, the author of Conquistadores de la Calle came up with a hopeful perspective when he portrayed that these children were not forced to be on the streets, because it was their choice to be so. This is exemplified in the case of one street child, Salazar, whom Offit featured in his book. The young Salazar was not forced to work at a young age, and even told the author how viewed education as a right thing, of which all children deserve, yet he abandoned it by his own choice (Offit, 154). He claimed that he was simply bored in school and opted to work and be economically productive, which is a practical thing to do instead of wasting his time idly.
The story of Salazar and many other children in the city of Guatemala makes one feel better because of their demonstration of gut and independence. While education is important, people might as well accept that it is not for everyone, and what is more essential is that these children learned to take control of their lives. They are in fact a reflection of the splendor of self-sufficiency, hard work and honest living. There is a feeling of relief upon knowing that young as they were, they have learned how to empower themselves for a better future. Despite not having a formal education, they demonstrated an eagerness of wanting to create a better life for themselves and their families. The skills acquired on the streets are valuable to provide them with an advantage to improve their lives, despite the socio-economic status that they have today.
I admire the author’s effort of showing these children in a positive perspective, far from the helpless situation of children that are commonly depicted in sociological studies. I realize that while formal learning is essential, there are times when developing practical knowledge acquired through real life experiences are as valuable. In fact, I have some thoughts on the need for reconsidering the western educational system; specifically, about whether the offered curriculums are sufficient in letting the students acquire the needed skills to thrive and survive in the outside world. As presented in this book, the children possessed natural instinct, positive work ethics and other skills that are necessary to get along well and survive in the streets.
Nevertheless, I still hope that there is more to be offered to these children in order for them to improve their lives. Despite the positive depiction of young workers on the street, Offit (161) argued that “the cause of child street labor are embedded in the larger global economy”. There is therefore a need to re-consider those aspects that are causing these children to choose to be on the streets. As suggested, it is the economic injustices that lead these children to work at a very young age. Still, we can console ourselves in knowing that these young people are doing something to fight against deprivation and poverty.
Works Cited
Offit, Thomas. Conquistadores De La Calle: Child Street Labor in Guatemala City. University of Texas Press. 2009
