The Internado para niños indigenos is one of four boarding schools, or Social Integration Centers founded by the government in the 50s to provide the children of impoverished indigenous families with free education. Predictably, the experience yielded mixed results. The schools are underfunded and the children are largely left to run the place by themselves.
This photo reportage unveils the daily life of learning, cooking, cleaning, delousing, and particularly focuses on the lockers, the one and only private space enjoyed by every child. From this place of cultural isolation and material deprivation, we learn a precious lesson in resilience and joy.
