Camelô - Street hawkers in Rio de Janeiro >>> Luciana

Luciana is a single mother of two daughters and lives in Santa Cruz, a district in Rio de Janeiro’s west. She gains the subsistence for her and her children Alana and Luana by selling coffee, juices and sandwiches to the marketers on farmer’s markets in different neighbourhoods of the West Zone (see >>> interactive city map).

When the marketers are catered, she additionally offers hair ties and costume jewellery, which was originally her only income source. As she could not find any formal employment, she extended her sales offering breakfast. She works four days a week and earns on average 20-30 Real (6-9 Euros) a day. Since childhood Luciana works on farmer’s markets. The only additional income she has, are the alimonies her former husband is obliged to pay. As his income is low, too, she only receives 140 Real (50 Euros) a month.

No one of the protagonists, so as well not Luciana, wanted to accept the small remuneration I was able to pay and offered as compensation for the loss of earnings caused by the filming of this no-budget-production. However I would like to give a reward for the courage and shown social responsibility using the means of a communication designer.

One idea was to organize a sponsorship for Alana's and Luana's school education. If it would be possible to find someone to finance it, I would look after it and additionally create an internet portal where sponsors and children could constantly communicate. The children could write small compositions about their everyday life at school, which would be posted together with photos on the site, where also the sponsors are presented to give them special appreciation. But I would be also happy about any other idea, suggestion or support for Luciana.

Luciana with her daughters Alana and Luana

Benjamin Hemer benjamin@camelo-film.org