Underneath the dark and layered issue of the Peruvian artisanal gold rush is another crime that transcends all complication, simple in its evil: Forced child labor and sexual slavery. Some children are kidnapped, others were orphans already, and some tricked away from their unknowing families for a little much-needed money and the lie of steady work in the city.
Children of Gold
Photo of La Pompa by Felipe Castleblanco
A Peruvian couple, Oscar Guadalupe Zevallos and Ana Hurtado Abad, are taking this problem on with direct action. Together they run Association Huaryao, an orphanage and non-profit that works side by side with local authorities to rehabilitate underage children (mainly girls) who have been rescued, often times by Oscar himself, from the countless gold mining brothels that appear surrounding “La Pompa.”
Oscar taking some of the girls aided by Asociación Huaryao to an art showing at the ACEER headquarters.
The story of Oscar and Ana has received little press and is one begging to be told. A story that needs no exaggeration: A couple navigating the space between organized crime networks and human struggle with the intent to save as many children as they can.
I met with Oscar in September in Puerto Maldonado for an interview. He and officials at the Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios (Local university) are on board to work with me to tell this story. On top of the aid from the university, we also have all content Oscar has gathered through years on the frontlines documenting police raids, murders, and the success stories of returning rescued children to their families. This type of content is extremely powerful and not safely obtainable by foreign film crews.
A short film on the subject would serve to bring light to Oscar and Ana’s mission, give them political swing in their efforts to be taken seriously by government officials, contribute a new viewpoint in the complicated battle for the Amazon and the rights of its people, and serve as a lesson to indigenous groups and land stewards tempted by the incentives of miners. The project would have a play time of between 8-12 minutes and would focus on the efforts of Oscar, Ana, and the stories of the children they work with.