Recyclable Ashes

"Recyclable Ashes" Unleash Dual Narratives of Joy and Tragedy in Villa Cindy, Suba Locality, Bogotá, Colombia

The Colombian national football team orchestrates an exuberant symphony of joy and emotions in the vibrant quarters of Villa Cindy, an enclave nestled within the Suba locality of Bogotá. Amidst this celebratory ambiance lies a stark tale of hardship, as over 131 individuals—comprising 50 adults and 81 children—find themselves grappling with the profound loss of their possessions.

The fateful night of June 23 bore witness to a calamity, ostensibly ignited by a candle within the residence of one of the sector's inhabitants. Houses constructed from a medley of wood and plastics succumbed to flames that, while unrelenting, afforded a calculated composure, ensuring the safe evacuation of all residents.

This marginalized sector, primarily inhabited by recyclers, stands at the outermost fringes of Bogotá, where law enforcement's reach is truncated, and the mandate becomes one of sheer survival.

In the aftermath, approximately 32 families mourn the material devastation and the forfeiture of the cherished televisions through which they aspired to witness the unfolding football spectacle. Like the ashes of their homes, their dreams linger in the aftermath of an unforgiving confluence of circumstances."

Text: Juan David Tena