Photo Essay: Foods of the World

Lucy mixes cake batter in the kitchen of the church in Bolivia where she works. As the mother of a sponsored child, she learned to be a baker through her local Unbound mothers group. Lucy makes and sells cakes and other baked goods in her community to help supplement the family’s income.
Sponsored youth Wycliff, 18, who’s also an Unbound scholarship student, cleans produce at the fruit and vegetable stand his mother operates in Nairobi, Kenya. She was able to set up her business with a loan from her local Unbound mothers group.
Armenia, the mother of 15-year-old sponsored child Astrid, mixes snow cones in her home in Guatemala. She was able to purchase a shaved ice machine to make the snow cones, which she sells on the street, by saving a portion of her daughter’s Unbound benefit funds over several months.
Eli lives in Bolivia where she makes and sells yogurt beverages in her home. She sells the drinks at fairs, schools and community events to help support her family. Eli learned how to make yogurt in a course taught in her local Unbound mothers group, which she joined when her daughter Elderly was sponsored.
Gladys and her husband, Sergio, have a garden near their home in Guatemala where they grow produce that they sell as a livelihood. The mother of sponsored child Jonathan, 13, Gladys is a leader in her local Unbound mothers group.
In the towns and villages on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, fishing is a common livelihood and fish are a staple food. Here a woman cleans a fish in preparation of making “patin,” a traditional fish stew.
Elenita stocks the shelves of the store she and several other women operate together in Quezon City, Philippines. The women, who are all mothers of children sponsored through Unbound, started the store as a way to provide goods at low costs to members of the community.
Mercedes prepares bread in the small bakery she operates out of her home in Bolivia. She’s the mother of Martin, now 22, a former Unbound scholarship student.
Ruben, left, and his wife Lourdes display a tray of freshly baked bread. They live in Bolivia where they operate a bakery in their home. The couple has three children. Their daughter, Massiel, is sponsored through Unbound.
Pedro, left, was a sponsored elder. He passed away in 2020. For more than 50 years, he made and sold artisanal sorbet from a cart on the streets of Ataco, El Salvador. He passed the skill along to his son-in-law, Juan Pablo, standing on the right in this 2019 photo.

NOURISHING BODY AND SOUL

According to an estimate by the United Nations, more than 2 billion people worldwide — that’s 61 percent of the global population — work in the informal economy. Many make their living from preparing and vending foods and beverages. They work from their own homes, kiosks, roadside stands, mobile carts and makeshift shops of all kinds.

The restrictions on travel and gatherings brought about by the pandemic have taken a great toll on these people. It’s also created food shortages in many places. But out of necessity those who live in poverty learn to become resourceful, and many are finding ways to continue to practice their trade.

These photos highlight members of the Unbound community who are involved in some way in the food industry. Taken prior to the pandemic, the photos illustrate the importance and dignity of work that gives sustenance to others.

Photo Essay: Foods of the World

NOURISHING BODY AND SOUL

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Photo Essay: Foods of the World

NOURISHING BODY AND SOUL

THE LATEST

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