Emily Epstein, a Barnard '07 alum who moved to Buenos Aires to learn spanish and work on a long-term photo project, worked in Villa 31, a slum in the heart of the city, and photographed a girl's soccer team that stressed leadership for young girls living in poverty. The photographs are part of an exhibition at the American Embassy in Buenos Aires this March. Photographing in the villa peaked her interest in social issues, and she expanded it to a larger project focused on family life. This work brought her to the attention of Getty Images, which is now distributing her work internationally.  You can view the photographs here.

Please read her accompanying essay below:

Villa 31

Motherhood, Childhood and Villa 31

Villa 31 is a 1,525 hectare slum located in the business center of Argentina's capital city. At least 40,000 people call it home, mostly illegal immigrants, where life and death obey different rules than the ones that maintain the city proper. The lands are the most expensive in Buenos Aires because of their location: right in the middle of downtown, close to the stock market and the highest valued neighborhood, not to mention the city's central bus and train station.

Regardless of its surroundings, Villa 31 exists in a parallel world, almost self-sufficient and with its own values. It is a city within an Argentine bubble; it grows exponentially, composed of Paraguayans, Bolivians, Peruvians and other families struggling to make a living in Argentina. The government of Buenos Aires views the slum as a blight, often imposing laws and raids meant to break up the community.  However, upon entering the Villa, you will find children roaming freely.  There are several businesses and community centers within the villa- ranging from restaurants to dentists.

While the native countries of the inhabitants are different, many of them share traditional patriarchal or “machismo” values.  Most often, men work as construction workers and women are homemakers and maids.  Rather than explore misconceptions about crime and legality, I felt an investigation into the family unit would best explain the complexities of Villa 31 and the infrastructure that maintains it.

(c) Emily Anne Epstein for Getty Images