In m y time traveling around the world, ecuador has become one of my favorite countries on the planet. It’s beautiful, lush, and like many of its sister countries in south america, has so much to offer if the system could get corrected and help the people there to thrive.
one of the main reasons why i choose to show the beautiful landscape images in so many of these galleries is because it’s easy to assume that the south american countries that feed a lot of the migrant population are places that anyone would want to leave. and that’s what makes the story so compelling.
yes, the poverty and lack of opportunity and upward mobility are definitely huge factors in the migrants leaving to journey to the united states. but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy choice. many times they are leaving their families behind, their entire life history behind, and very beautiful conditions to travel america, simply becaue of poverty.
the average worker in ecuador makes between $5-$10/day. for many of us in the united states, europe and other more developed nations this is an unfathomably low amount to try and build a life and future.
You have to ask yourself why people would leave so much? why would they say goodbye to their families and risk the journey to deal with cartels, coyotes and more? Are these individuals all criminals looking to game the system? Or are they taking advantage of an opportunity with a country that’s clearly allowing illegal immigration?
And if you’re honest with yourself. Would you not do the same? these are the questions that drove me to create this documentary. for me to see it all for myself and to feel it on the ground level. the truth is that many of us in the developed areas of the world have no idea what true poverty looks and feels like. so it’s worth considering what we would given the same set of circumstances.
