Nos duelen 56
On March 8th, 2017, a fire broke out at the “Virgen de la Asunción” home for girls in Guatemala, claiming the lives of 41 girls and leaving 15 others injured, for a total of 56 girls who suffered that day due to the negligence and corruption of the Guatemalan government, as well as the poor management of our child welfare system. In response, the initiative “Nos Duelen 56” (They Hurt Us 56) invited various Guatemalan artists to create portraits of the girls who perished.
I had the honor of illustrating Yoselin, one of the girls who tragically died in the fire. She was known for wanting to become a teacher when she grew up, but her dreams were taken away. In my illustration, I decided to make those dreams come true. Yoselin is depicted inside a framed photograph, as teachers are often photographed for school records, with a small text that reads "Seño. Yoselin," the term used by children in Guatemala to refer to female teachers.
After nearly seven years, the trial for this case began in January 2024, against 8 of the 12 accused. These individuals are former public employees who were responsible for the welfare of the girls, as well as leaders of the local police who were in charge when the fire occurred. We are still waiting for a verdict.
The case was covered by numerous media outlets, and my illustration, along with others, was used to raise awareness about the girls. It was shared both in Guatemala and internationally. Here are some of the publications:
https://www.rudagt.org/temas/nos-duelen-56