Villa 31

Villa 31 is a 1,525 hectare slum located in the business center of Argentina's capital city. At least 40,000 people call it home, mostly illegal immigrants, where life and death obey different rules than the ones that maintain the city proper. The lands are the most expensive in Buenos Aires because of their location: right in the middle of downtown, close to the stock market and the highest valued neighborhood, not to mention the city's central bus and train station.

Regardless of its surroundings, Villa 31 exists in a parallel world, almost self-sufficient and with its own values. It is a city within an Argentine bubble; it grows exponentially, composed of Paraguayans, Bolivians, Peruvians and other families struggling to make a living in Argentina. The government of Buenos Aires views the slum as a blight, often imposing laws and raids meant to break up the community. However, upon entering the Villa, you will find children roaming freely. There are several businesses and community centers within the villa- ranging from restaurants to dentists.

While the native countries of the inhabitants are different, many of them share traditional patriarchal or machismo values. Most often, men work as construction workers and women are homemakers and maids. Rather than explore misconceptions about crime and legality, I felt an investigation into the life of children would best explain the complexities of Villa 31 and the infrastructure that maintains it. Children, unpolluted by politics, are the best indicators of injustice.

-Emily Anne Epstein
www.EmilyAnneEpstein.com

With a special thanks to Sol Amaya.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• villa 31
• poverty
• slum
• housing
• children
• ngo
• argentina
• buenos aires
• pibe cantina
• yerba brava
• emily anne epstein
• emily epstein
• photography
• photojournalism
• motherhood
• childhood

[pecharosky]

villeros de mierda!

[Lp5309]

El problema es cuando esos millones se multipliquen en el futuro, necesitaran espacio comida y trabajo. En un futuro no se hablara mas de bolivianos, peruanos o paraguayos, seran argentinos de primera o segunda generacion. Seran la futura cara de la miseria de nuestro pais en mayor grado de mendicidad y marginalidad. Los K ya no estaran ni seran juzgados por esa responsabilidad, habra nuevos politicos que aprovecharan con el clientelismo, un verdadero cancer.

[raggion]

El ejercito de los K, ahi están, y viven como ratas. Mientras los Kirchner y toda esa burocracia vive en el más alto lujo, robandose plata de los impuestos que pagamos todos y destruyendo el país, ellos viven en estas precarias condiciones. Es injusto e ilegal, pero ellos lo permiten, porque actuan a favor, son sus soldaditos. En vez de tener una buena educación y un hogar como la gente, aca están, robando e instalándose en lugares donde no se debe, porque es lo unico que conocen.

[slayermets]

Very powerful. It's definintely not shmaltzy. Nice essay, btw.