The Mazahua homelands and villages are characterized by poverty, malnutrition, disease, illiteracy, overcrowding and a general lack of services or jobs. With conditions still in general decline many are forced to migrate to the cities in order to survive, where they carve out a meagre living selling candy or food on the streets and by doing odd jobs in labouring or domestic cleaning.

Left:Alfredo (26) sells candy at a busy intersection to support his family. He buys his candy from a wholesaler for 100 pesos for 300 bags and then sells 3 bags for 5 pesos. On a good day he will make 100 pesos, from which he supports his wife Carmen (23) and his four children; Brian (8), Vincent (6), Crystal (3) and Wendy (1). He got married at 17 when Carmen was 15 and pregnant with Brian. He says he 'wants his boys to do well at school so they can get a better job than this'.".Cebtre: Brian (centre) waits to be substituted during his weekly football game which he plays with a local team. Right: "Alicia heads off to sell along the route taken by Pope John Paul II to the airport after his 5th visit to Mexico, with two of her 7 children, Sandra and Carlos."