NAFTA, Free Trade, & Neoliberal Economic Policy and their connections to Child Labor and Homeless Children on the Streets of Mexico City By Anastasia Williams

Many young children have to take care of their siblings so parents are able to work. The photo above is of a 6 year old girl watching over her 3 year old brother.

The new programs such as NAFTA have benefited the rich people but the poor people still live in poverty. They have no opportunities to improve their financial stability.

Millions of people live in poverty in Mexico Millions of people live in poverty in Mexico. The government does nothing to improve the living conditions for these people. The picture portrays a family’s home in Mexico.

These young teenage boys receive a free meal in Mexico City These young teenage boys receive a free meal in Mexico City. They live on the streets and work as venders to support themselves.

The young boy cleans the windows of cars so he can help out his family with food. There are no government programs that helps assist those in need. Without the help of the children working, the families have to starve.

Seventeen year old Fernando is an entertainer on the streets so he can make enough money to live on his own. His father taught him how to work as a juggler at age 5. He has lived on his own since age 10.

This little girl’s mother makes trinkets and she then sells them on the streets of Mexico City. An estimated 14,000 children work in the central parts of Mexico City.

Sixteen year old Marvin sleeps any place he can Sixteen year old Marvin sleeps any place he can. He has been homeless and without a family for five years now. He is just one of thousands of children that sleep on the streets.

These children play by themselves in a collapsing building left over from the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. With parents working to provide food for the family, children of all ages are left to fin for themselves.

The little boy below is lost and alone The little boy below is lost and alone. He did not know where is parents where. He has no shoes or proper clothing on. Many children are left alone while their parents work. They are exposed to corruption and can be killed through cartel drug wars.