Summary
Highlights
The girls finally reach San Mariano, mooring their heavy dugout. Craven also arrives, often having to run errands in the village store. The children enjoy recess and a hot lunch provided by the government’s 'zero hunger program,' a welcome change in their otherwise difficult lives. After lunch, they return to enthusiastic math lessons, a stark contrast to their earlier struggles.
This video introduces the challenging daily commute for children in eastern Nicaragua, a wild and secluded region defined by the Rio Escondido. With no roads or trains, and 10 months of rainy season, schooling here is an adventure fraught with danger. Children brave freezing temperatures, long climbs, and non-stop bailing for a chance at a better life.
In San Nicolas, a small jungle settlement, the Gonzalez-Florez family begins their day at 5 AM. Without running water or electricity, the three Florez sisters—Kenya (9), Julia Junior (7), and Julissa (5)—start with an hour and a half of household chores, feeding animals, before even considering breakfast. Their mother, Dona Julia, emphasizes education as their path to a brighter future, hoping they become doctors or teachers.
Eleven-year-old Craven Lopez, living a kilometer inland, faces a different kind of danger. His journey to school takes him through three kilometers of dense jungle, where his biggest fear is snakes and other venomous animals. He's often afraid but remains determined to learn and make something of himself.
The Florez sisters start their two-mile river journey in a dilapidated dugout canoe, needing 15 minutes of bailing before every trip. Their route takes them through a treacherous mangrove swamp, a maze of roots and branches. The canoe constantly takes on water, and the threat of venomous animals falling from branches, especially for five-year-old Julissa who can't swim, adds to the danger.
Craven finishes the jungle part of his journey, but then faces the 'snake field'—an area notorious for dangerous reptiles like boa constrictors. His mother, Dona Jamie, worries constantly about the risks her son faces, preferring the shorter, but still dangerous, river route for school.
Despite the dangerous journey, the girls make good progress on the river. They are most afraid of alligators but are excited to reach school. Each sister looks forward to different aspects: seeing friends, their kind teacher Mrs. Miller, or simply the joy of learning. The school, in the village of San Mariano, serves around a dozen children, with supplies costing $41 annually, a significant amount for most families.
Mrs. Miller, the teacher, understands the challenges her jungle students face, often arriving late or with wet belongings. She works to keep them focused despite their fatigue. Her simple reading lessons are vital in a country where a quarter of adults are illiterate. Meanwhile, Craven must remain vigilant for coral snakes, especially after rain, when they come out of their coconut shelters.
As the girls cross a lake, a daily downpour adds to their struggles, with water pouring from above and seeping into their canoe. Three kilometers away, Dona Julia, the girls' mother, is constantly worried about their safety on the river, especially for Julissa who cannot swim. Despite her fears, she recognizes the importance of school, as she herself is illiterate.
Classes end at 1 PM, and Kenya expresses sadness at leaving her friends. The journey home is even more arduous, as the girls must paddle their 200 kg dugout against the river's strong current and face worsening weather conditions. Craven, after his village errands, endures a hot and humid walk home, exhausted but needing to help his family make coconut oil upon arrival.
Craven takes a break for water and encounters Don Pedro, discussing snake sightings. The girls finally reach the mangroves after an hour of arduous paddling against the current. The strong current has made them late, increasing their mother's concern. Both the girls and Craven push through the final kilometers, eager to reunite with their families.
The girls reach San Nicolas, elated to see their mother, Dona Julia, who is preparing dinner. The family shares a moment of relief after another dangerous day. Nine-year-old Kenya reaffirms her dream of becoming a teacher, signifying the powerful motivation that drives these children through their extraordinary daily journeys to school.