Ester Medina

Las Patronas are located in the village La Patrona, in the town of Amatlán de los Reyes (Veracruz). This image depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe who is a model for them.
Las Patronas are located in the village La Patrona, in the town of Amatlán de los Reyes (Veracruz) in Mexico. This image depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe who is a model for them.

 

Boxes of food for distribution are ready for delivery as soon as the train whistle sounds.Boxes of food for distribution are ready for delivery as soon as the train whistle sounds.

 

“Immigrants who ride this cargo train are our brothers and sisters, and are suffering... It´s not right!” said Norma Romero, member of Las Patronas.

“Immigrants who ride this cargo train are our brothers and sisters, and are suffering… It´s not right!” said Norma Romero, member of Las Patronas.

 

Las Patronas do all the work to prepare the food that is given to the migrants. They have to find the ingredients and pick up leftover bread from the supermarkets as well as various kinds of beans.

Las Patronas do all the work to prepare the food that is given to the migrants. They have to find the ingredients and pick up leftover bread from the supermarkets as well as various kinds of beans.

 

Julia Ramírez, member of Las Patronas.
Julia Ramírez, member of Las Patronas.

 

Preparing food means a long time selecting, cooking and pocketing it. Very often they have to do it outside because the number of bags is too great.

Preparing food means a long time selecting, cooking and pocketing it. Very often they have to do it outside because the number of bags is too great.

 

Rosa Romero, housewife and member of Las Patronas pockets beans in the surroundings dining area.

Rosa Romero, housewife and member of Las Patronas pockets beans in the surroundings dining area.

 

Leonila Vázquez, better known as Doña Leo the mother of some members of the group Las Patronas began the work at the side of the railway with her daughters.
Leonila Vázquez, better known as Doña Leo the mother of some members of the group Las Patronas began the work at the side of the railway with her daughters.

 

“They´re travelling as flies in the cargo train. All of them arrive very hungry and some of them are also injured. We want to be an answer to this” said Leonila.
“They´re travelling as flies in the cargo train. All of them arrive very hungry and some of them are also injured. We want to be an answer to this” said Leonila.

 

Julia waits with the food bags in the hand for the arriving of wagons with migrants.
Julia waits with the food bags in the hand for the arriving of wagons with migrants.

 

The Beast train is known for taking the lives of thousands of migrants each year. Many of the migrants have been beaten, robbed, murdered or kidnapped.
The Beast train is known for taking the lives of thousands of migrants each year. Many of the migrants have been beaten, robbed, murdered or kidnapped.

 

Rosa gives a food bag to a migrant riding on The Beast.Rosa gives a food bag to a migrant riding on The Beast.
Rosa gives a food bag to a migrant riding on The Beast.

 

On the train are also those traveling unaccompanied, such as minors, babies, and entire families
On the train are also those traveling unaccompanied, such as minors, babies, and entire families.

 

A migrant grips the iron train. By simply sleeping, someone can slide and fall to their death.
A migrant grips the iron train. By simply sleeping, someone can slide and fall to their death.

 

Children who live just a few meters off the railway tracks. They, too, know Las Patronas and the model of joy and hope they are.
Children who live just a few meters off the railway tracks. They, too, know Las Patronas and the model of joy and hope they are.

 

Osvaldo (6) is a Rosa Romero´s son and colaborate in all the activities that Las Patronas do. Everything from cooking and preparing the food bags to carrying boxes to the tracks. At his age, he is already aware of injustices that migrants suffer.
Osvaldo (6) is a Rosa Romero´s son and colaborate in all the activities that Las Patronas do. Everything from cooking and preparing the food bags to carrying boxes to the tracks. At his age, he is already aware of injustices that migrants suffer.

 

A lot of children who live near the dining area of the Las Patronas have never left the village
A lot of children who live near the dining area of the Las Patronas have never left the village.

 

At the age of 78, Leonila reads the newspaper every morning and is the first who runs out when the train whistle sounds. For her, age is not an obstacle to solidarity.
At the age of 78, Leonila reads the newspaper every morning and is the first who runs out when the train whistle sounds. For her, age is not an obstacle to solidarity.

 

Las Patronas
At this moment, there are people like Las Patronas, helping empoverished people around the world.
(Ester Medina is a spanish photographer and has made differents coverages in Germany, México, Italy and Spain.)

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