Childhood in the Desert – La Guajira, Colombia

In the far north of Colombia, where the Caribbean Sea meets endless dunes, lies the desert of La Guajira. It is one of the country’s harshest landscapes, home to the indigenous Wayuu people.

Here, children grow up surrounded by sand and wind. Along the dusty roads, they often stop passing cars, asking for water or candy — small gifts that light up their day. To reach school, they travel long distances in minibuses that cross the desert, sometimes interrupted by sudden rains that turn the dry land into mud.

Yet, in their eyes shines a light stronger than the sun above them: simplicity, innocence, and resilience that reveal both the fragility and the beauty of life in the desert.