The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School

Overview

• Theme: Children risking their lives daily to access education in remote areas.
• Focus: Unique landscapes, such as the Andes Mountains and the Amazon rainforest.
• Objective: Education as a key to a better future, despite extreme poverty and dangerous journeys.

The Youngest Valley in Bolivia

• Location: Remote section of Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in South America.
• Challenges: Education is hard to access; children risk their lives for better opportunities.

The Journey of Helen and Mariela

• Age: Helen (9) and Mariela (7) live atop a mountain.
• Distance to School: 2.5 hours walk; they live the farthest from the school.
• Living Conditions: Extreme poverty, no father, mother works as a day laborer.
• Dreams: Helen wants to be a doctor; both sisters desire to escape their poverty.
• Daily Life: Walk through dangerous paths, fear of snakes, and exhaustion.

The Snake Hill

• Danger: Encounter with coral snakes; awareness of the risks involved in their journey.
• Snack Break: They consume what the forest offers, such as sugar cane.

Elmer's Journey

• Family Background: Elmer (7) and younger brother Murphy (4) live with a coca farming family.
• Daily Routine: Has to help with coca harvest before school.
• Zip Line: Elmer uses a dangerous homemade zip line across the gorge to get to school, approximately 650 feet high.
• Fear of Heights: Acknowledgment of past accidents involving others on similar paths.

Teacher's Journey

• Angela (63): Commutes weekly between La Paz and the jungle school, a dangerous trek.
• Transport: Bus rides perilous and often affected by fog, landslides, and narrow roads.
• Motivation: Passion for teaching and helping children access education.

Arrival at School

• School Atmosphere: Limited facilities, only two teachers for 29 students, multi-grade classes.
• Daily Schedule: Includes morning gymnastics, flag ceremony, and various subjects.
• Nutrition: Government-sponsored lunches are often the best meals children have.

After School

• Challenges Home: The return journey is longer and harder, with uphill climbs.
• Elmer's Family Ritual: Pachamama ritual to pray for good harvests and health.
• Helen and Mariela's Exhaustion: Long days of walking; they strive for education amid fatigue.

Conclusion

• Dreams for the Future: Both Helen and Elmer aspire to better lives beyond their current circumstances through education.
• Hope for Change: A vision where children don't have to risk their lives just to attend school.