The Municipal Dump

The Jinotega Municipal Dump, home to all trash collected from the valley and to some of the most resilient individuals I have ever met. Living in quite literally a dump, their stories are heartbreaking and their living conditions even more so. Pictured above, this 80 year old woman used to work at a cafe before getting laid off over 20 years ago. When we met her she was picking through the garbage with her granddaughter looking for anything useful. Here they scavenge through the mountains of garbage looking for food, clothing or any recyclables that can be sold for pennies on the dollar in town. Yet, despite their desperate living situation, there was still happiness in the air, everyone waved and all were kind enough to answer our questions about what their lives were like. Living above the clouds, these people have completely adapted to a new lifestyle, and while it may be difficult, they have flourished into a tightly knit community all the same.