Chris Mercer with children from the boys shelter where he volunteered.
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Inspired by the experiences of real children in street situations, Niños en la Calle is the story of Sofía and Rafa, a sister and brother who work in the blazing hot sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic.
In spite of backbreaking work and low wages, their mother and father love them and they are happy... until a hurricane rips through their lives changing everything. Now Sofía and Rafa must learn to survive on the streets of Santo Domingo, sleeping in caves and dodging police. Will they make it to a better life or be swept away by trauma and poverty? Niños en la Calle is a gripping story of struggle, perseverance and the power of love. Appropriate for level 2 and up. |
RESOURCES
Documentary: When pigeons fly
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IMAGES FROM THE FILM |
When Pigeons Fly is a heartfelt documentary by Chris Mercer, that takes you inside the lives of children in street situations. This film shows you firsthand the harsh realities of life on streets in the words and through the eyes of the children that have lived it.
Meet the young men who inspired the characters of Sofía and Rafa in the novel and hear them describe their lives on the streets. Meet a young man who had been living on the streets for 13 years and see the toll it has taken on his body.
The film concludes by following the children through a day in the life of an organization that supports the children and shows how they have been able to change their lives for the better.
This film will bring the book to life in a way that no other CI novel has done.
Special Features:
Meet the young men who inspired the characters of Sofía and Rafa in the novel and hear them describe their lives on the streets. Meet a young man who had been living on the streets for 13 years and see the toll it has taken on his body.
The film concludes by following the children through a day in the life of an organization that supports the children and shows how they have been able to change their lives for the better.
This film will bring the book to life in a way that no other CI novel has done.
Special Features:
- English Subtitles.
- Cultural Background about the Dominican Republic
- IB, AP and Social Justice Themes:
- Global Challenges
- Working Conditions
- Child Labor
- Economic Globalization
- Environmental Protection
- Sustainable vs. Unsustainable Economic Development