The Price of Childhood

Juan Antonio Diaz's childhood ended at 8 years old. Juan, now eleven, works full time on a dairy farm where he lives with his family. They live and work in rural Guatemala in a situation similar to indentured servitude. Juan and his family are part of Guatemala's rural population who suffer from one of the most unequal land distributions in Latin America. While Juan makes less than $7 a week and his stepfather makes $125 a month, they struggle to buy food to support the family. 

01

Juan Antonio Diaz, 11, wears no shoes as he sits between two troughs while helping his stepfather feed the cows on the dairy farm where his family lives. 

02

Juan, who has been working since he was 8 years old, looks like a child but has the duties of a man. 

03

Juan harvests Zacate, a type of long grass he and his stepfather grow to feed the cows. 

04

Since they work out in the fields to support the family, Juan and his stepfather, Dimas Calderon, are served their lunch before the rest of the family. 

05

Juan relaxes on a wall after lunch while his grandfather visits. 

06

To feed the cows, Juan mixes water, molasses and salt, then adds the mixture to shredded corn stalks. 

07

Juan brings the cows in from the fields with his bicycle, his only prized possession. 

08

After exchanging bicycles with one of the local children, Juan finds that his newly acquired bicycle is broken beyond repair. 

09

At 11 years old, Juan is no longer considered a child, but he is not fully a man. 

10

Juan leads a horse carrying a load of freshly harvested corn stalks, which he will grind to feed the cows.