Bolivian Shoeshiners Live in an Endless Cycle of Poverty

Рет қаралды 35,797

7 жыл бұрын

Shoeshiners (2016): In the Bolivian city of La Paz, destitute women and children shine shoes in order to scrape a living. Earning a pittance, they are forced to endure abject poverty as well as the contempt of their customers.
For similar stories, see:
The Rio School That's Changing Favela Kids' Lives (2014)
• The Rio School That's ...
Can an Artistic Makeover Improve one of Africa's Largest Slums? (2009)
• Can an Artistic Makeov...
Morales' Battle To Change Bolivia's Constitution
• Morales' Battle To Cha...
Subscribe to journeyman for daily uploads:
kzfaq.info_c...
For downloads and more information visit:
www.journeyman.tv/film/6874
Like us on Facebook:
/ journeymanpictures
Follow us on Twitter:
/ journeymanvod
/ journeymannews
Follow us on Instagram:
/ journeymanpictures
"Men threaten us," confides Marlene. "But what are we going to do? Work is work." For these women, shoeshining is their only hope of earning enough to survive. "I do it to pay for my children's study," explains Ines, another shoeshiner who has lived on the streets since she was twelve. With no help in sight, the lives of these unfortunate souls quickly spiral out of control. Unable to support her makeshift family, Marlene turns to drink. It is not long before a new generation of children are forced to eke out a living by begging and shining shoes - the latest victims of an endless cycle of poverty and social abandonment.
Woolfcub Productions Ltd - Ref. 6874
Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world's most powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent stories from the world's top producers, with brand new content coming in all the time. On our channel you'll find outstanding and controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine wanting to know about.

Пікірлер: 137

@andreavillazon9549 4 жыл бұрын

so sad . I am Bolivian and grew up there in that city La Paz , I always gave them food and I never understood how people would just look the other way knowing they were kids.

@j.h-k6936 6 жыл бұрын

This is how videojournalism is supposed to be. Well done.

@denisadeny9692 7 жыл бұрын

gosh seeing the life these people have makes me appreciate more the things I have it's awfully sad

@cuauhtemocmiquiztli8503 7 жыл бұрын

i know living in NYC u see that u are lucky to have what u have it sad some people have too much and some don't 😔😔😔

3 жыл бұрын

Be happy for your first world priviledges

@artfrias4 7 жыл бұрын

In contrast here in USA sometimes we buy new shoes instead of shinning your old ones I was born in a similar poverty in Mexico but life gave me an opportunity here in this country my son does not believe me when I say I walked five miles every day to go to school.

@ucleswali444 7 жыл бұрын

walking is a good thing. No wonder, why there are some MANY PIGS (obscenily OBESE people) in the USA.

@yukiruikuta6500 3 жыл бұрын

@@ucleswali444 I don't walk that much everyday and I'm not overweight. It's the junk food that's making people fatter.

@StolzerKurde92 7 жыл бұрын

Life is an endless struggle... My daily issues seem so incredibly bizarre compared with the issues these people face day by day. Thanks for reminding me how bloody lucky I am...

@jalepezo 7 жыл бұрын

Lucky, Luck is defined by destiny and usually does not last forever. In a way than no single individual can win and bankrupt all Las Vegas casinos. Destiny, on the other hand, does not bend by human will nor rule.

@abc64pan 7 жыл бұрын

All these people want is a decent warm meal daily to fill the belly. What the fuck are you talking about Mr. philosopher?

@kieko1584 7 жыл бұрын

good one:))

@annelehmann9770 7 жыл бұрын

abc64pan >✓

@mmebrady 3 жыл бұрын

@Jose Plaza there's more than enough blame to go around

@Realunmaker 7 жыл бұрын

That mini heart attack you have when are a child and you agree to let them shine your shoes and discover only a 20 or 50 bolivianos bill on your wallet. Yeah never mind, growing up as low middle class over there and having to deal with this people is strange. A mix of pity, compassion, fear. So many flashbacks came to my mind as I watched this documentary.

@1houroflove186 6 жыл бұрын

I've NEVER had my shoes shined by OTHERS or even myself. If I could afford such shoes and to have others shine them, I'd definitely tip them well.

@andreavillazon9549 4 жыл бұрын

I used to tip the 20bs and you have no idea the smile they would give me but I mostly bought them food as I know they would use the money to by their drugs . They get high on cleft which is Glue

@papi55 7 жыл бұрын

Indigenous people are the poorest in the Bolivian society>>>The same can be said here in Canada unfortunately.

@josearturo3576 7 жыл бұрын

This is really hard to watch because its a bad reality we are living here in Bolivia. Everyday i see lots of kids inhaling thinner and sometimes gasoline :/ really sad.

@curtisneilson5829 7 жыл бұрын

we had paint and glue sniffers in los angeles

@misanthropickitty6422 7 жыл бұрын

jose arturo Tell me more about Bolivia.

@antoniotottojr 4 жыл бұрын

was in bolivia 3 years ago.. and yes this is a sad reality even for me coming from the Philippines, a third world country in southeast asia. we also have the same problem but i cant imagine how hard it is for them when the temperature drops to freezing point.. imagine hungry and cold :'(

@user-wickedflower 6 жыл бұрын

What a hard life she led no wonder she drank

@maximus3233 6 жыл бұрын

That young girl would have look very pretty if she lived clean & did not do drugs. I pity for their lives. God bless them.

@michaelsabella5924 7 жыл бұрын

It sickens me that the people just walk by these folks like they dont exist. EVERYONE walking by can afford a friggen shoeshine, considering they prob only charge 50 cents, how sad . Oh then our Govt doesnt sem to give a shi* either.

@andreavillazon9549 4 жыл бұрын

thing is you also fear them . they also rob and cut faces when high which is why people walk by them quickly .

@OliBolivia 2 жыл бұрын

I’m visiting my home country Bolivia this summer and I’ll tip them hella good. 🙏🏽my countrymen

@FreshtexBlackman 7 жыл бұрын

What's sad is that these people are already poor & uneducated yet they have children & bring them into their situation, also most of them can barely feed themselves yet they can afford drugs!

@SirReptitious 7 жыл бұрын

Yes! As an anti-natalist, it truly enrages me every time I see one of these videos of people that are "stuck in a cycle of poverty". They are stuck in the cycle because they have children when they can't even afford to take proper care of themselves! It has nothing to do with education. You don't have to be educated to realize that if you are destitute, having children will only make your problems worse! It is the ultimate act of selfishness, which makes it very difficult for me to have any sympathy for them.

@tacosatlarge Жыл бұрын

They bring them into the world because they believe their children can break the cycle. Unfortumately it can take a few generations for that to really happen, maybe never.

@hernan5940 3 жыл бұрын

The signs close to Serafina's kiosk warn thieves they will be burnt or hanged if caught. Then, she is speaking in Aymara or Quechua when offering people to shine their shoes. I speak fluent Spanish, this is the first time I hear that language

@nepadron 6 жыл бұрын

I really feel sad for Marlene. She had such a sad face. R.I.P.

@hr2079 7 жыл бұрын

dang, poverty is harsh

@robertyoung7823 6 жыл бұрын

These people live a tough life. anyone watching this video has know idea just how tough these people have it. GOD BLESS THEM.

@SosaSal_ 3 жыл бұрын

This video humbled me real quick

@herbo1586 6 жыл бұрын

couldn't watch past 8mins as to upsetting, will watch the rest later. Thanks for uploading this reality check for us silver spoon westerners to see

@bujfvjg7222 7 жыл бұрын

when you look at the sheer poverty and extreme greed, it makes one disgusted to be human.

@daath5114 7 жыл бұрын

Bujf vjg - Antinatalism: a philosophy that assigns a negative value to birth.

@eidorian101 4 жыл бұрын

Bujf vjg and you won’t do anything

@libertinerising 7 жыл бұрын

Great doc......Thank you for sharing their story.

@miguelmamani2293 Жыл бұрын

i cry for this sometimes,im from bolivia

@michelle_m4446 Жыл бұрын

Excellent documentary and incredibly heartbreaking. My life sucks. But I have the opportunity to at least attempt to better it. These people do not. These children didnt ask to be born into this misery. They dont deserve it

@Dazarabia522 7 жыл бұрын

That was heartbreaking.

@HotZetiGer 7 жыл бұрын

now you have no heart?

@Dazarabia522 7 жыл бұрын

that was funny. Slow. hand. clap.

@MatteoPrezioso 6 жыл бұрын

Heartbreaking. I am currently living in Bogotá, and that's pretty much the same.

@rezahidayat7136 5 жыл бұрын

God bless them all

@kamakshimmm9739 7 жыл бұрын

god bless them

@miguelmamani2293 Жыл бұрын

good documentary good job

@jackmorris6074 7 жыл бұрын

Marlene was 36? I thought she was 66 wow

@crazy948 7 жыл бұрын

i thought she was 50ish. being malnourished will really make one look older...

@samnicholson5051 5 жыл бұрын

poverty and alcoholism really takes it toll.

@Universo-fo4re 7 жыл бұрын

People from the Andes have had a very hard life since long ago... Victims of a brutal experiment of social engineering

@sepditannel535 7 жыл бұрын

sad. god blessing this people 😇😇😇

@alvarez6487 4 жыл бұрын

Bolivia is rich in natural resources but foreign countries and transnational multinational cooperations have overexploited the region which have left millions poor & benefited few. Its great that MAS, Evo's Morales's party, has nationalized the industries, redistributed the wealth.

@susand.8905 Жыл бұрын

You live in neverneverland.

@alvarez6487 Жыл бұрын

@@susand.8905 I live in reality. Bolivians support MAS. Because of their support, Bolivia has been the only country in Latin America with growth.

@timmartino7269 2 жыл бұрын

Thank so much for sharing this a video.. so I know about living in Bolivia.. so sad to see them ..far Hallo from Jakarta

@antking1117 7 жыл бұрын

my heart was heartbroken.

@vijeeshm7317 6 жыл бұрын

This the best episode ....... but sadly

@NotAnotherKuromi 7 жыл бұрын

There must be something very wrong with their home life for them to have to live like this.

@isaacreynaldodurancruz8493 4 жыл бұрын

i am from Bolivia but, i do know this happen in Bolivia,this is really so sad

@samnicholson5051 5 жыл бұрын

It's very depressing about Marlene and her son. She seemed like a good person despite of her problems. But at least things improved a little bit for the other two. I wonder how they're doing now. Actually I'd be happier not knowing. Unless they put the wrong year in the video, this would have been shot between 2009-2011, but not released until 5 years later, so I say things are probably quite different.

@Happy_HIbiscus 4 ай бұрын

😥😥😥😥

@nojusticenocalm2146 7 жыл бұрын

Blame The Government ,!!

@damishypedamischill7404 7 жыл бұрын

i like poor people they appreciate health ... money .. treatment of people ... being poor means u r humble

@kanalevi 7 жыл бұрын

nah, suffering just makes you realize things, it makes you human

@tam-eremaime6299 7 жыл бұрын

yeah like carjack yo ass gta style

@TastyAppleFTW 7 жыл бұрын

then they steal your car

@GabberHeadzNL 7 жыл бұрын

AND I DISLIKE IN OTHER WORDS HATE STUPID PEOPLE WITH THE ROTTEN MIND SET AND LOGIC LIKE YOURS YOU MUST BE AN AMERICAN DONUTS BUSTER WHO LIKES TO JUDGE EVERYONE BUT DOES NOT SEE HIMSELF ,JUST LIKE THIS FUCKING CHANNEL BRINGING ONLY SADNESS,DESPAIR,MISERY ETC SO THAT IDIOTS LIKE YOU CAN FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEM SELF

@TriforceOfTheGods80 7 жыл бұрын

Sure, they are the best in health, spend money wisely & have a great view on life, wtf are you smoking. These people shown are miserable, have poor health (one woman shown looks 50 but is 36 & died, other woman has no front teeth), have a grim life, spend money, whatever they have, on drugs & doing hard drugs.

@WhoToldYouThatAtlanta 5 жыл бұрын

😔😔😔😔 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Maranatha 🕊

@Feelthefx 7 жыл бұрын

This is depressing. I'm going to watch sneezing kitten videos now

@youngz13o 6 жыл бұрын

Marlene was 36??

@haydenkasich8664 7 жыл бұрын

Bolivia dumped it's presidents of European origin to elect a president of indigenous heritage (who I remember from his previous failed election bid the one before the one he won) and things are still in bad shape, corruption still rife and poverty ever present. Goes to show, democracy, socialism or whatever, the ordinary people still don't get a break.

@exsonsoli900 7 жыл бұрын

Hahaha welcome to Papua New Guinea my friend, its the land of unexpected things, but pristinely beautiful and virginly untouched environment. Jungle welcomes you with tranquil and you breath the latest fresh oxygen just made in the Papua New Guinea Jungles. I mean where else can you find such a implicite peace at mind. Papua New Guinea is the Third Largest Carbon sink in the world and due to Increased Logging else where it is about to become the worlds top carbon sink.

@theyoungturd9026 7 жыл бұрын

Exson Soli I lived in Papua..and it suck plaCE to lI've in...malaria, inter tribe conflict...all bad

@user-wickedflower 6 жыл бұрын

Exson Soli this isnt pap new guinea ,they all sick pedos there

@michaelsabella5924 7 жыл бұрын

My apologies to the pl of Bolivia for thinking this was sanfrancisco. Poverty discriminates against noone, even in the U.S

@londonspade5896 6 жыл бұрын

Makes me want to play Ghost Recon Wildlands

@crazy948 7 жыл бұрын

i always thought this profession is already eradicated 30-35 years ago by Kiwi Shoe Polish...

@user-wickedflower 6 жыл бұрын

analgesic wtf?

@shaddai-gadrehuisrael7390 6 жыл бұрын

Isaiah 49:15-Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

@hulagu3068 7 жыл бұрын

I'm going Shopping.

@michaelsabella5924 7 жыл бұрын

I thought I heard they said this is in San Francisco, doesnt like like it, so I misspoke I guess saying the U.S govt should help.. Sorry

@mmebrady 3 жыл бұрын

There's more than one SanFranciso...

@cristiancuevas3218 22 күн бұрын

Vengo de rik tok 😢

@smashthestateX 7 жыл бұрын

pls give these womens anticonceptives for godsakes

@GoldenPuppy1O1 6 жыл бұрын

12:02 27:01

@theace7212 4 жыл бұрын

Sad. Can we make liberals in the US who complain about everything watch this?

@martinmare6215 5 жыл бұрын

Im so high i thought they were rapping the whole time..dammit

@Zullyan 7 жыл бұрын

so in bolivia the homeless are called shoeshiners ?

@user-wickedflower 6 жыл бұрын

Zullyan no thats just something they do to survive, not all but some of them

@CrazyforCruiser 7 жыл бұрын

Bolivia has the best president he should help out these people.

@abc64pan 7 жыл бұрын

Problem is there's just too many of them. Poor people reproduce like ants.

@ucleswali444 7 жыл бұрын

speak for youself, ANT.

@nairagonzales6047 6 жыл бұрын

Kamran Khan he's all for show, that man is an illusion. He acts like he's for the indigenous people but he's all about money for him

@susand.8905 Жыл бұрын

Are you kidding, the only one he has helped is himself. EVO IS filthy rich, now. I wonder where all the money came from. From the Bolivian government and nacro-drugs, he is involved in. Best president, my foot!

@shaddai-gadrehuisrael7390 6 жыл бұрын

Awake O, Israel. The prophets of god are coming for you to bring you the medicine, jesus christ the black messiah has not forsaken you o zion

@democracycat2513 7 жыл бұрын

Seriously why give birth to children(not to mention multiple) when one can't even fend for herself? I don't feel bad for the mother, I feel bad for the kids.

@daath5114 7 жыл бұрын

Tom Dawn - Antinatalism: a philosophy that assigns a negative value to birth.

@polishoperator5687 6 жыл бұрын

That`s a surprise,they look more like those indigenous peoples rather than Spanish

@pranavtiwari6772 6 жыл бұрын

thinkingstuff2 This is how a Spaniard looks like - lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cYfGYPZ57alVYkb_eYNXiqtaICUKDTr6HsYiWkKBAorFzXxl-9TpD2OIEs2gD_bHV32E7JifRnJsF7uG5NuQ7xUeY228zoO35DE4RSvBHzLbCrsgYCN_nHOHB5lI0fF9auHw_edE6Q9lnJ3rhmCzxnX6e3DvThnY9mEqULBH-6lYOAc=w200-h300-nc These people in the video are pure native Americans.

@tacosatlarge Жыл бұрын

I mean this is the Andes mountains. The reason why Bolivia is very indigenous is because the high altitude makes you more prone to the sun’s effects. The Spainiards’ skins were too bright to tolerate the harsh UV rays whereas the natives’ skins were dark enough.

@DarkysLPs 7 жыл бұрын

Shoeshiners are poor. In other news water is and always will be wet.

@crazy948 7 жыл бұрын

breaking news!!! there used to be a shoeshiner in my city who was able to put his children through college; the daughter is now a popular doctor here...of course, he's already dead now.

@tracyskitchenandappalachia2954 7 жыл бұрын

Every one there needs a debit card to put money on the debit card to save money too buy some land.

@morayoung3183 5 жыл бұрын

Mi pastor lustraba zapatos y soporto a su familia, hasta que un pastor le dio una Biblia y aprendió a leer, con lo poco que había aprendido. Evo y Albaro han hecho más que ningún otros presidentes en la historia de BOLIVIA, POR EJEMPLO EL BONO JUANCITO PINTO, PERO Desgraciadamente, tenemos más con pasión de nuestros verdugos. nose que podría hacer por el momento, otra cosa que orar y reclamar las promesas de JESUCRISTO. YO también sobreviví en Bolivia la explotación y el mal trato de mi madrastra y sus hijas y hasta ahora me insultan y tratan como una criada o peor todavía, por que no les fomento, el vicio, la flojera, trabajo no falta. Si se dedican y pro en saldrán adelante con la gracia de JESUCRISTO que nunca nos abandona y nos perdona y nos dio su Espíritu Santo para sobrevivir. No se olviden que JESÚS murió por todos nuestros pescados y que si lo buscas lo encontraste para que te ayude mediante su Espíritu Santo ha vencer cualquier vició.y tentación.

@adriandickson3593 Жыл бұрын

People in a first world habitat, trainer shoes is a presence to them. I don't feel sorry for her in a way it is the world's fault for creating this and the others.