Summary
Highlights
In the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Raramuri children face a daily, grueling journey to school. Six-year-old Teresa, eight-year-old Ankara, and nine-year-old Filomena, from the village of Repichinari, trek for hours, enduring over a 1,000-meter change in altitude, to reach the boarding school in Cerocahui. Their hunger for education outweighs the danger of falling down narrow, steep slopes. Their mother, Aniseta, sends them to school to learn Spanish, recognizing it as a gateway to work in the city and a better life.
Meanwhile, 1,000 meters below, six-year-old Lorenzo from Chapaturi begins his two-hour ascent to school. Orphaned and living with his uncle and grandmother, Lorenzo cherishes school for the consistent meals it provides, a stark contrast to his family's struggle for food. He navigates treacherous paths of loose stones and steep slopes, aware of the dangers and the isolation of the sparsely populated Sierras.
The girls take a short break to gather and eat apache pine seeds, a natural candy, to replenish their energy. They then face a highly dangerous section of the descent, a steep slope where their mother once broke her arm. Lorenzo continues his climb, enduring a painful blister, and finds sustenance in creosote bush leaves. He faces the most daunting part of his journey: a narrow path along a cliff face, 300 meters deep, where one slip could be fatal. He must remain vigilant, as no child has ever fallen from this wall.
The girls reach a river, which can become impassable during heavy rains. Today, they cross safely, but the unpredictable weather and treacherous conditions are constant threats. Lorenzo also experiences how rain can make the rocks too slippery, forcing him to seek shelter in a cave. Both children are aware of wild animals like cougars and coyotes lurking in the mountains.
The girls arrive in Cerocahui, the only village with a school, just before classes begin. Lorenzo arrives after a nearly four-hour journey, twice his usual time, but safe. The teachers acknowledge the challenges these children face, with many living in the boarding school during the week due to the dangerous commute. The school provides free meals, crucial in combating hunger and malnutrition, and offers a structured environment where learning in Spanish is a priority.
After school, the girls attend a Corn Beer Festival, a mix of ancient rites and Catholic faith, where they pray for rain and enjoy a rare feast of goat meat. In the boarding school, children sleep in crowded conditions, often three to a bed, staying fully dressed due to the cold. Despite the hardships, children like Lorenzo dream of a future free from poverty, aspiring to be teachers or animal owners, fueled by the hope that education provides.