Adolescency in most societies can be a bit of a headache for most parents. Brazil is no different in that respect, but maybe our worries are on a slightly different level in such an insecure community as the one surrounding Hummingbird, where kids lose their lives just by looking at another guy’s girl.

Marcos’ mother Maria’s main worry is for the life of her son, with all good reason. With no man in her household, she puts all her faith in God. Nevertheless, she always breaks down in tears whenever she hears of a good neighbour’s kid who suddenly gets himself shot for some stupid, infinitesimal reason!

Maria worries about all the girls who run after her son because she knows that more than 30,000 girls under the age of 14 raise the birth statistics each year in this country. Most of these belong to the kind of impoverished community she lives in, where life and death go hand-in-hand and are probably the only things that really function without too much effort.

Keeping Marcos tight on the reins is part of our job and he spends a great deal of his spare-time at Hummingbird, where he is an active sportsman in both Capoeira and Football and enjoys to dabble with canvas and paintbrush.

Just call me on my cellphone, baby! It’s safer that way!
(Marcos doesn’t have one but the big blue will do).

São Paulo, Brazil.

Also, check out articles in New America Media category: Youth Culture