Abdías Pérez
GRADUATES
Abdías Perez was just 9 years old when he joined Fotokids. He grew up in El Mezquital, a tough neighborhood in Guatemala where drugs and gangs were part of everyday life. Raised by his single mom, Abdías faced constant pressure to join a gang, like so many of the boys around him. But he found a different path—one that would change everything.
Instead of giving in to the streets, Abdías threw himself into his studies and his expression through photography. He graduated from high school and went on to study journalism at the university. His hard work paid off when he was offered a job at a national television news station. After proving himself, the opportunities kept coming, and he became a photojournalist for the official newspaper of Guatemala.
Today, Abdías is the Photography Director for the President’s Office—a position he never dreamed of as a kid. He’s also moved out of that dangerous neighborhood, creating a new life for himself and his family in a safer area on the outskirts of Guatemala City.
Abdías’ story is a powerful example of what happens when someone chooses education and hard work over the pressures of their environment.
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