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Children of Peru

Following his ordination in 1998, Augustinian Missionary Priest Christopher Steinle, O.S.A. was assigned to bring Christ to the people of Peru. After ministering in Morropón for three years, he relocated in 2002 to Progreso, an isolated town high in the Andes Mountains. He reports on the working child in Peru.

The Working Child

Before coming to Peru, the idea of children working conjured up for me an image of a child mowing a lawn or having a newspaper route.

Here in Peru, children working has a whole different meaning. In our territory most children work to help their family survive. I will share with you some experiences of some of our young Peruvian workers.

After he attends classes in the moring in Morropón, one little boy, Orlando, sells a type of sweet bread. He lives with his family along the highway running from Morropón to Piura.

There is a lot of traffic on this road. Orlando's job is to run out into the road whenever a bus or car stops and try to sell a package or two of bread to the driver or other travelers.

It is dangerous work because other cars and buses drive by as Orlando and other vendors are making their deals.

Orlando does this work to help pay his school expenses. He has several brothers and sisters. The whole family works in this bread-making business.

There are many young girls and boys who have a small box of candy or cigarettes which they sell in the streets.

The luckier of these children work only after their classes, but many of then do not attend school at all. They spend their whole day walking about and selling.

I met a young man who works as a cobrador (conductor) on a bus in the city of Lima. He told me that he works six days a week from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. For this he earns 40 or 50 soles a week, which is less than $20.

His job is difficult. He must call out the destinations of his route and also collect fares of the passengers. I am amazed that he has any voice left, as he is almost constantly calling out the destinations.

Another part of his job is hanging outside of the bus to try to get the attention of potential passengers waiting on corners. There are many different competing buses on each route. Competition is intense. Each cobrador must try very hard to get more passengers on his bus.

One important requirement of a good cobrador is that he or she must be small, so that when the bus is very crowded, the cobrador will not take up much valuable space, but will leave more room for paying passengers.

Because of this requirement, many of the cobradores appear to be young teenagers. I have seen both boys and girls working as cobradores.

Here in Peru the young people are very resourceful and often create jobs for themselves. They will watch your car while you are shopping, polish your shoes or help you carry your packages.

At stop lights in large cities like Lima, almost anything is for sale: chewing gum, soda, nuts, flowers, a new mirror for your car.

All of the sellers are children.

The working child is the norm in Peru. For some, working makes school possible. For others, working is a way to help their family. For still others, the very survival of their family depends upon their work.

Tiny shoulders bear heavy burdens.

Learn More about the Augustinian Missions in Peru

• The Church at Work in Northern Peru

         » Making Much with Little
               Grassroots Pastoral Plan in the Catholic Diocese of Chulucanas, Peru

         » Social and Economic Development
               Helping the poor to help themselves in Northern Peru

         » The Bishop Visits
               Pastoral visits in Peru are a time of special blessing

         » Pastoral Journeys in Pacaipampa
               Travelling to remote Peruvian mountain villages to bring Christ to the people

         » Augustinians Return to San José Obrero
               Friars resume ministry in Chulucanas parish after five-year absence

• Children of Peru

         » Children of Peru: The Child at School
               The life of a young student in the mountains of Peru

         » Heart to Heart Project
               Helping poor Peruvian children to remain in school