Juan Carlos with his family in front of his parents house
Hi, my name is Juan Carlos Gonzales Cabellos and I am 17 years old. I was born in Paijan where I used to live with my parents, my mother Maria Cabellos and my father, Severino Gonzales and my brother William Gonzales Cabellos.
When I was still a child I used to sell sweets on the streets. I did that because my parents didn’t have enough money to send me to school. I started working on the street even though I knew it was dangerous, but I had to do it to help my family. After a while I met other children who also worked on the streets. That is how I learned about a boys home called “Mundo de Ninos” and that they help children that don’t have the money to move forward in life.
Juan Carlos with his new lap top in his bed room
And you know what? I managed to get in, get a roof over my head, a plate of food to eat and some love and affection. But the most important thing is the education the children receive here. Thanks to Mundo de Ninos I now go to school. I am in forth grade of secondary school and have already started to study too. And most important, I am no longer working in the streets.
I often heard about a small company called FairMail where my friends went to. I was very curious and always asking about it. And I liked it that they where working in photography. That seemed cool to me! Luckily it did remain only interest and I also managed to get into FairMail.
FairMail is now a small business that helps teenagers with little economic means through photography. We take pictures in different parts of Peru where after they are exported to other countries where they are sold. Half of the profit is for FairMail and the other half for the photographer. The photographers part is devided in our own health, clothing, housing and educationfunds.
Chef Juan Carlos ready for action!
Thanks to FairMail I managed to buy a laptop so I can practice graphic design. Also I was able to build a sturdy wall for my parents house as the old one was about to crumble. Because I really like cooking I am now studying to become chef at an institute called “COCINA DE LOS CHEFF” and I work in Huanchaco in a pizzeria called “MISQUI”. I am pizza maker and in the future I am hoping to become a great photographer and have my own restaurant.
It is something really bizar to dream about, but I know that if you set a goal for yourself you can make it become reality!
I hope you liked my story and keep supporting us by buying our postcards from FairMail Peru and FairMail India.
Thanks
Atte. Juan Carlos flores cabellos.
(Red. for more information about Juan Carlos, to buy his cards and look at his pictures click here)
Top earner this year was Elmer Machuca Chacon from Peru who earned a total of 1.756 euro. He is currently our top photographer! In India both Kaushal and Anshu where very succesful earning a bit more then 500 euro each. Don’t forget that the kids are making this money during their 5 hour a weekly free photography classes provided by FairMail volunteers! Not bad, to earn money while you’re studying!
Good news from Peru about 
The year 2009 was another very lucrative year for the teenage photographers from FairMaiPeru and FairMail India. With their 50% of the profit from the sale of their pictures, their health care insurance and wage for the packing of the cards the 27 teenagers earned almost 10.000 euro in 2009. A new record!
Great news from Mariaflor who managed to improve her families house with a real door and a sturdy roof out of her earnings from the sale of her FairMail cards. Ever since a new pub opened its doors a few doors down the block the old door made of recycled bits of steel no longer offered the necessary protection from invading drunks. Together with her mother and FairMail Peru’s manager they went to the hard ware store to by the necessary materials and contract a handy man. Now the job is finished and visitors to Mariaflor’s house can sit in a roofed living room in stead of an open air space between three mud brick walls.
With the sale of 
Akaash is one of the teenagers who likes to work with his hands and is not motivated to follow further education. You can’t really blame him after seeing what this has brought his brother and sister. Both have a university degree but no job and thus can’t support the family. Luckily Akaash does understand that to run a succesfull business he has to be able to read, write and do his maths. That’s why he, Anil and Sonu hired the services of a private tutor to learn at least the basics. The coming years FairMail will be following up on Akaash and guiding him to make his mechanic workplace a success.
After years without going to school, two teenagers of FairMail India are following classes again since the beginning of this year. With their income from the sale of their cards they hired a private tutor to help them catch up. Lack of money and responsibilities for their families made that Anil and Akaash hadn’t been to school for some years now.