Balancing between hell and heaven.

Alberto - I, originally uploaded by carf.

Alberto is ten years old. He lives with his father alone. His father drinks too much and that leaves Alberto in rather a delicate situation. His mother he does not know, she’s been in prison too long, since he was small, because she killed a pregnant woman. Alberto reckons she will spend thirty years there.

Alberto balances between many uncertainties with his father, who puts strict but inconsequent limitations on him, depending on his own state of mind. Things like not letting him go to school or participate in activities at Hummingbird. Alberto is still too young to go against his dad in situations like these, but the time will come as he grows.

It’s important we follow-up a kid like Alberto, who stands in danger of hitting the streets in a tough way. We are his parachute and safety net in rough storms, that’s important, it prevents him from becoming yet another street kid.

The mark on his throat was his drunk dad last night.

Text and Photo by Gregory J. Smith,
Social Entrepreneur & Founder of The Children At Risk Foundation - CARF