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Most Dangerous Ways To School | PERU | Free Documentary
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Most Dangerous Ways To School | PERU | Free Documentary

The World's Most Dangerous Ways to School

Introduction to Lake Titicaca and Uru Culture

  • The documentary introduces the unique challenges faced by children traveling to school across Lake Titicaca, emphasizing the beauty and danger of their journey.
  • Children paddle for hours daily, navigating through reeds and battling nature in pursuit of education.

Daily Life of Uru Children

  • At dawn, nine-year-old Mariella and her sister Belinda prepare for school while their parents are busy with fishing. They wear traditional uniforms and braid their hair as per cultural customs.
  • Four-year-old Harold also prepares for kindergarten, showcasing the importance of early education in Uru culture.

Vidal's Journey Across the Lake

  • Eleven-year-old Vidal lives on a small island and begins his day by checking fishing nets before embarking on a two-hour boat ride to school. His boat is made from reeds, reflecting traditional Uru craftsmanship.
  • Fishing is vital for sustenance; Vidal expresses joy when he catches fish that can be traded or eaten by his family.

Challenges Faced During Travel

  • As he paddles alone across Lake Titicaca, Vidal's mother worries about his safety amidst vast waters. Despite this, he remains determined to study hard for a better future.
  • The physical demands of rowing require careful rationing of strength; even at 11 years old, this journey tests his limits daily.

Mariella's Route to School

  • Mariella rows with her sister Belinda towards their private primary school, facing fears about falling into the water during their journey through busy waterways filled with traffic from larger boats.
  • She recalls learning how to row at an early age from her mother, highlighting the skills necessary for survival in their environment.

Cultural Significance of Education

  • Both children express aspirations tied to education: Mariella dreams of studying medicine while Vidal aims to become an engineer—showcasing how education is viewed as a pathway out of poverty within Uru culture.

Community Support Among Children

  • Older children like Mariella often help younger ones like Harold navigate safely through busy channels—a reflection of community support among families living on floating islands.

Learning Environment at School

  • Upon arrival at school after long journeys, students engage in various subjects including math and Spanish; teachers face challenges due to students arriving tired from travel without proper breakfast or rest beforehand.

Conclusion: The Importance of Resilience

  • Despite numerous obstacles—including harsh weather conditions—the determination shown by these children illustrates resilience and hope for a brighter future through education amidst challenging circumstances on Lake Titicaca.
Video description

It is early in the morning as Vidal gets himself ready. But before Vidal can brace himself for his dangerous way to school he must take care of his family`s sustenance – like every morning he checks the fishing nets. After work it`s time for a Uro bread and he drinks a Mate tea. Both things, like almost everything else here are made form the totora reeds. The Uros are a people that are very rooting in their tradition. They have even managed to preserve the Pukina, their mother language dating back to the colonial time. After two hours of paddling, Vidal reaches the center of the village. He floats past houses, where a family is building their new island since the old one has began to rot. It is the normal rhythm here. Every three years a new ground under the feet and a new roof above the head needs to be made. The construction begins by cutting the roots of the totora reeds in 30 cm long blocks. Five hundred of these are then tied together with ropes and soaked in the water for three months until they melt into one large block. On top of this block, the family piles totora reeds up to two meters high, until a part of the block sinks in the water and starts to rot. The gases released from this biomass under water produce a buoyant force that causes the new island to swim. After three hours of paddling, Vidal has finally reached the Uro elementary school where he learns to read and write. Here besides his native language, he also learns Spanish. It is not the language of his parents, but at the same time it is his chance of a future outside of his village.