The Yungas Valley in Bolivia is home to a unique landscape, where the Andes Mountains meet the Amazon Rain Forest. In this remote section of one of the poorest countries in South America, children face a long and incredibly dangerous journey to school, all in pursuit of education – for a better life.
This is the story of Elmer, a seven-year-old boy who dreams of becoming an engineer and building his own house far away from his remote village. However, his only way to school leads over a ravine that’s over 650 feet deep and about 1000 feet long – a homemade zipline made of a rusty iron pulley and a worn plastic bag.
On the other side of the valley, on the summit of the mountain range, two sisters Helen and Mariela live isolated and in the heart of the jungle. Of all the children who attend school, the sisters live the furthest away and face fear, hunger, and exhaustion every day. But education is key, and they believe it to be the means to a better world. And so they run great risks every day to pursue it.
Their journey to school is more than just a walk through the jungle. It’s a test of endurance and willpower. The children have only one goal in mind: to ultimately find a job in the city and lead a better life.
Watch the documentary “Most Dangerous Ways To School – Bolivia” to witness the determination and courage of these young children in their pursuit of education.
