Flávio lives together with his wife Luciana and their four children Ariana, Helena, João and Benhun in a poor district of Belford Roxo, a city in the northern periphery of Rio de Janeiro, in the so called Baixada Fluminese (“Rio’s hollow”).

Until his marriage at the age of 16 he was going to school, which he then needed to quit so that he could feed his young family. First he worked formally with employee’s record book (carteira de trabalho), amongst others as temporary janitor. As the formal income was not sufficient, he started at the age of 17 to earn his money as street hawker.

His main work place is a busy crossing in Rio de Janeiro’s North. When the traffic light switches to red, Flávio walks from car to car and offers his ware to the occupants. In the summer, when it is very hot, he sells fruits, which he purchases it the central fruit market (CEASA) in Irajá. In the cooler winter he offers chocolate.

On Mother’s Day or in the pre-Christmas period as during the shootings, he sells ware suitable to the certain events, e.g. roses or as in the documentary wall clocks. At these times he walks in the evening additionally from pub to pub, mainly in poor areas, offering his ware to the clients to better his income. Also events like free of cost concerts he uses to gain an auxiliary earning, selling as hawker small odds and ends.

For more about residence, ware purchase and points of sales see >>> interactive city map.