Argentina is the southernmost country of the South American continent and covers about 2.77 million square kilometers. It is seven times the size of Germany and, after Brazil, the second largest country in South America.
In recent years the economic situation of the country has grown considerably worse. The effects of the economic crisis are underemployment and poverty. Unemployment has reached a new record of 16.4%, and a further 16% of the population who are fit to work are underemployed. In once prosperous Argentina poverty is now rife. One in three Argentinians lives under the bread line and this tendency is growing.

The province of Jujuy is in the North of Argentina. It is the poorest region of the country right at the foot of the Andes. The capital of the province is San Salvador de Jujuy and is situated at 1300 meters altitude with 200,000 inhabitants. The city is marked by a very small central part and sprawling slums reaching from there in all directions.

Punta de Diamante, is one of these neighbourhoods with approx. 2500 inhabitants. 65% are younger than 18. A large group are mothers between 12 and 19, single mothers more often than not, with at least two children. Though many of the houses there have running water and electricity, they are without sanitary appliances, as Punta does not have a sewage system yet. It is part of normal everyday life that many children - especially the smaller ones - are left to themselves the whole day. Starting as young as 4 years old, they have to take care of their younger brothers and sisters.