Original subtitles

[ BIRDS CHIRP ]

[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]

[ WATER RUNNING ]

[ CLICKING ]

- YOU GUYS WANT TO EAT EGGS?

- YOU GOT FOOD?

- FILMING.

MY NAME IS CHRIS, AND I GREW UP JUST OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY.

THIS IS ZACH, AND HE'S A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE FROM SEATTLE.

WE'VE GROWN UP WITH VERY SIMILAR LIVES.

THESE ARE THE HOUSES WE WERE BORN IN...

OUR FAMILIES...

THE AWKWARD MIDDLE-SCHOOL PHASE...

THE SPORTS WE PLAYED...

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WE DID FOR FUN...

I MET ZACH DURING MY FIRST YEAR AT COLLEGE,

AND WE QUICKLY BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS.

OUR LIVES ARE FAST-PACED,

AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING EVERY DAY.

[ ATM WHIRRING ]

[ HORNS HONKING ]

[ ATM BEEPING ]

THIS IS CHINO.

HE IS 12 YEARS OLD AND LIVES IN A RURAL VILLAGE IN GUATEMALA.

HE LIVES IN EXTREME POVERTY,

ON LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR A DAY.

HOW CAN WE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS LIFE IS LIKE,

ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE EVERY DAY

WITH NO CLEAN WATER, LITTLE FOOD, AND POOR SHELTER?

AND JUST LIKE CHINO, THERE ARE OVER 1.1 BILLION

PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT SURVIVE

ON ONE DOLLAR A DAY.

ZACH AND I STUDY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCHOOL,

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT A TEXTBOOK JUST CAN'T ANSWER.

SO WE'RE CREATING A PLAN TO SPEND OUR SUMMER LIVING

ON ONLY ONE DOLLAR A DAY IN A RURAL GUATEMALAN VILLAGE --

IN CHINO'S VILLAGE.

OKAY. BYE, MOM. I LOVE YOU. MWAH!

- I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN

FOR MYSELF WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO LIVE UNDER A DOLLAR A DAY...

WHICH, COMING FROM THIS REALITY,

I CAN'T REALLY SAY I HAVE ANY IDEA.

I LOVE YOU. - I LOVE YOU, TOO.

- I'LL SEE YOU.

- WE'RE BRINGING ALONG TWO FILMMAKERS...

AND SETTING OUT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND

THE REALITY OF EXTREME POVERTY FIRSTHAND.

LET'S DO THIS.

[ High-pitched voice ] HELLO!

[ WHOOSHING ]

[ MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]

WE'RE BEGINNING OUR JOURNEY IN GUATEMALA CITY WITH A SIX-HOUR RIDE

ON THE BACK OF A CROWDED CHICKEN BUS.

WE ARE HEADED TO THE VILLAGE OF PENA BLANCA...

THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF RURAL POVERTY

IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.

IN THESE REMOTE AREAS OF GUATEMALA, 7 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE

LIVE UNDER THE POVERTY LINE.

- [ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IS THAT -- ARE YOU HITTING STUFF THERE?

- WELL, I THINK WE'VE GOT A BOUNDARY OF, LIKE, A BIG ROCK

RIGHT HERE, SO THIS MIGHT HAVE TO BE OUR EDGE.

- SWEET. - MAYBE IT CAN BE CHIPPED AWAY.

- YEAH. - IT CAN.

- OKAY.

- WHY IS IT GOING OUT LIKE THAT?

- YOU'RE PULLING IT TOO HARD. - PULLING IT TOO HARD?

[ Chuckling ] NO. SADNESS.

- RIGHT, WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING...

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

- OH, GOD.

- AUDIO RECORDING.

- FILMING, FILMING.

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- [ SIGHS ]

- [ CHUCKLES ] - WELL... - [ ALL CHUCKLE ]

- WE'RE HERE IN THE RURAL HIGHLANDS, IN THE SMALL VILLAGE

OF PENA BLANCA.

THERE ARE ABOUT 300 PEOPLE

LIVING HERE, MOST OF WHOM ARE MAYAN.

- MOST OF THE PEOPLE ONLY SPOKE A MAYAN DIALECT CALLED

KAQCHIKEL, AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN.

[ BOTH SPEAKING KAQCHIKEL ]

- WE WANT TO LIVE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE

TO THE REALITY OF POVERTY, SO WE'RE REPLICATING

A FEW KEY ASPECTS OF IT.

OUR BUDGET FOR THE TRIP IS ONE DOLLAR A DAY EACH, FOR 56 DAYS.

BUT INSTEAD OF GIVING OURSELVES ONE DOLLAR EVERY DAY,

WE'RE MAKING OUR INCOME UNPREDICTABLE.

THIS WAY, WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN WE'LL GET PAID.

WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE EMPLOYED

INFORMALLY AS DAY LABORERS OR FARMERS,

SO THEY NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY'LL GET PAID

OR HOW MUCH THEY'LL MAKE.

WE'RE SIMULATING THIS BY TAKING OUR TOTAL BUDGET OF ONE DOLLAR

A DAY EACH AND SPLITTING IT

INTO RANDOM NUMBERS BETWEEN ZERO AND NINE.

THEN, EVERY MORNING, WE'LL PICK A NUMBER OUT OF A HAT.

IF WE PICK A NINE, WE MAKE NINE DOLLARS THAT DAY.

- PULLED A NINE.

- NO WAY! YOU GOT A NINE?

- OR IT'S A SIX.

- THAT'S A NINE, FOR SURE.

- IT'S GREAT NEWS. - WELL-PICKED.

- DUDE. HE'S GOOD.

- A SECOND ASPECT OF POVERTY WE WANT TO SIMULATE

IS THE PROCESS OF STARTING OUR OWN BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE TAKING OUT A LOAN OF $125 TO PAY FOR SOMEWHERE

TO LIVE AND FOR A PLOT OF LAND TO GROW RADISHES ON.

OUR SMALL LOAN IS PART OF A SERVICE FOR THE POOR

CALLED MICROFINANCE.

ZACH AND I HAVE HEARD BOTH GOOD AND BAD THINGS ABOUT THESE BANKS,

BUT WANTED TO SEE FIRSTHAND IF THEY WERE HELPING

IN PENA BLANCA, BOTH FROM OUR NEIGHBORS

AND BY TAKING OUT A LOAN OURSELVES.

THIS MEANS THAT, EVERY 15 DAYS, WE'LL HAVE TO PAY BACK SMALL

INSTALLMENTS OF $6.25, OR ELSE HAVE TO DEFAULT ON OUR LOAN.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

- I MEAN, WE'VE GOT 1,312 QUETZALES.

- THAT'S PRETTY DECENT. - THAT'S HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT,

YEAH.

SO...

- GET A CHICKEN, SELL SOME EGGS.

- YEAH, I MEAN, OUT OF THAT, WE COULD GET --

I MEAN, IF WE BUY A CHICKEN OUT OF THAT, THAT'S...

- DUDE, WE'RE NOT BUYING A CHICKEN OUT OF THAT.

- I THINK WE SHOULD BUY A CHICKEN OUT OF THAT.

- NO, DUDE. IT DOESN'T EVEN--

LIKE, CHICKENS DON'T, LIKE, AUTOMATICALLY LAY EGGS.

- [ CHUCKLES ] - WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR FEED.

AND WE CAN BUY, LIKE, FRUIT

OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S SO MUCH BETTER FOR US.

- OKAY, WE'LL RESEARCH, DUDE.

WE'LL RESEARCH THE CHICKEN-EGG COMPLEX.

- I WILL BE SO ANGRY IF OUR CHICKEN DOESN'T LAY EGGS.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- HOLA.

- IS THAT REALLY WHERE WE'RE GONNA GET WATER FROM?

- OH, DUDE, THERE'S A BUG IN THERE.

- SEAN, YOU SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW MUCH STUFF IS IN THERE.

- HEY, WE HAVE A WATER SOURCE.

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT. - THEN WE CAN'T GROW ANYTHING

THAT'S GONNA FINISH BY THE TIME WE LEAVE.

- BUT IF WE CAN ACTUALLY GROW RADISHES, ESSENTIALLY, IN TIME,

DOES THAT SORT OF SWITCH OUR IDEA BACK?

- WELL, EXCEPT FOR THAT I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO REALLY GROW RADISHES.

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- RADISHES COMPLETELY LIKE-- ANYTHING DEPENDS

ON THE SOIL CONTENT, WHICH WE HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT.

LIKE, IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH FERTILIZER WE NEED.

[ STAMMERING ]

YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FARM, AND WE JUST DON'T.

I MEAN, WE COULD WING IT AND TRY AND HOPE THAT IT WORKS.

- BUT, LIKE -- - YEAH.

- ÀDIEZ? - SI.

- AH. - À ES MUY CARO?

- MUY CARO. - YEAH.

QUE MALA.

- ÀCOMO ASI? - SI. COMO ASI.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- GRACIAS, DON CARLOS. - [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- [ CHUCKLES ] - SI. MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS .

MM-HMM. - [ CHUCKLES ]

- OH, NO.

OH!

- OH!

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

HOLY COW! OH, MAN!

- SIX.

- HEY. GRACIAS.

- DE NADA.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

- SWEET.

- ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS, WERE THE PEOPLE LIVING

IN EXTREME POVERTY, LIKE, REALLY THINKING

ABOUT HOW THEY MANAGE MONEY,

OR WAS IT THIS SURVIVAL MODE,

AND IT'S LIKE JUST TRYING TO SCRAPE TOGETHER ANYTHING

THEY HAVE JUST TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN?

[ HORN HONKS ]

[ BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ CASH REGISTER DINGS ]

[ CASH REGISTER DINGS ]

[ CASH REGISTER DINGS ]

[ CASH REGISTER DINGS ]

[ CHICKS CHIRPING ]

WE CAN'T BUY THAT.

FIREWOOD IS PROBABLY THE MOST

EXPENSIVE THING THAT WE WERE BUYING IN OUR BUDGET.

BUT WE ARE LIVING ON THE LINE,

ON THE EDGE, ALWAYS, OF BEING

ABLE TO DROP INTO A REALLY BAD SITUATION.

[ CASH REGISTER DINGS ]

- A LITTLE BIT BUMPY, TOO.

- WHOA! OOH.

- [ CHUCKLES ] - OOH.

- [ SIGHS ]

- ALL RIGHT.

- [ BLOWS ]

[ SLURPS ]

AHH!

- THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER EATEN.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ PENCIL SCRATCHING PAPER ]

1 1/2 POUNDS OF BLACK BEANS GIVES US 1,600 CALORIES.

1 1/2 POUNDS OF YELLOW RICE GIVES US 2,000, ROUGHLY.

BUT STILL, LIKE, 3,600 CALORIES SPLIT AMONGST FOUR PEOPLE IS NOT

GOOD ENOUGH FOR OUR DAILY VALUE.

- [ Chuckling ] YEAH.

- ZACH FELL FLAT ON HIS ASS AFTER.

EVERY TIME WE STAND UP, FOR SOME REASON,

LIKE, GET HUGE HEAD RUSHES.

I'VE ALMOST PASSED OUT, LIKE --

I DON'T KNOW -- TODAY PROBABLY LIKE THREE TIMES.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A LACK OF NUTRITION

OR WHAT THE DEAL IS, BUT ZACH ACTUALLY WENT FOR IT TODAY.

WE HAD OUR FIRST FULL-ON FALL,

AND WHEN HE CAME TO, HE WAS ONLY SPEAKING IN SPANISH.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

- I'M USED TO EATING A LOT. I'M USED TO BEING ACTIVE A LOT.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE NOT EATING ANYTHING --

WHEN YOU'RE EATING 500 CALORIES, YOU BECOME INCREDIBLY LETHARGIC.

YOU HAVE ZERO ENERGY TO DO ANYTHING.

- [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

[ GIRL GIGGLING ]

[ MACHETE CHOPPING ]

- THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND WEEK

ACTUALLY IN PENA BLANCA, AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALREADY

SHOWING SIGNS OF BEING WORN DOWN AND DEJECTED.

WE ALL HAVE THESE PULGAS.

WE ALL KIND OF GOT DESTROYED ON OUR DIRT FLOORS.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]

- AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS -- THAT WAS THE POINT

WHERE I WAS LIKE, "I WANT TO GO HOME.

LIKE, I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.

WHY AM I DOING THIS?"

AND WE WERE EATING BETTER THAN A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

- JOSE ENRICO JUST BROUGHT US A GIFT.

HE WROTE US A LETTER.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

SI?

- AW, GRACIAS, JOSE.

SI.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

- OH.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ CHILDREN GIGGLING ]

OH.

- OKAY. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- SI.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ INDISTINCT TALKING IN SPANISH ]

[ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]

[ CHILDREN SHOUTING EXCITEDLY ]

THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY NUTS. DID YOU SEE THAT MADNESS?

THAT WAS 315 KIDS PLAYING WITH, LIKE, 6 DIFFERENT BALLS

AT THE SAME TIME.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT'S UP, CARLOS?

AND I DON'T HOW MANY GAMES AND, LIKE, SNACKS WERE DISTRIBUTED,

BUT THAT WAS NUTS.

THAT WAS NUTS. HOW FUN.

YEAH. HOW FUN.

[ BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS, INITIALLY, THAT HE WAS

KIND OF JUST THE KID THAT WAS ALWAYS AROUND.

AND HE WAS JUST, LIKE, SO EAGER TO LEARN.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

HOW...

- ARE YOU?

- PSSH!

IT TURNS OUT CHINO'S FAMILY

COULDN'T AFFORD THE $25 COST OF BOOKS AND SUPPLIES FOR SCHOOL.

- THEY HAD A FAMILY OF EIGHT THAT LIVED IN A SINGLE ROOM.

THEY NO LONGER HAD ELECTRICITY,

BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR IT.

YOU KNOW, HIS FATHER NEVER KNEW WHEN HE WAS GONNA WORK OR NOT,

'CAUSE HE WORKED AS A DAY LABORER.

AND CHINO, WHO IS 12, HAD TO WORK IN THE FIELDS.

WE'D SEE HIM COMING, WALKING UP THE MOUNTAIN WITH THIS THING

WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD AND A HUGE BUNDLE OF, LIKE,

LOGS AND STICKS BEHIND HIM.

AT ONE POINT, CHRIS ASKED CHINO, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

"IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?"

AND CHINO'S RESPONSE WAS, YOU KNOW,

"I'M GONNA BE A FARMER." AND CHRIS WAS LIKE, "NO, LIKE,

WHAT WOULD YOU BE IF YOU COULD BE ANYTHING?"

AND, I MEAN, HE WAS LIKE, "I'D BE A PRO SOCCER PLAYER."

BUT AT 12 YEARS OLD, CHINO HAD ACCEPTED THE FATE

THAT HE WAS GONNA BE A FARMER.

- [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

- CHINO, LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE, SPEAKS KAQCHIKEL

AND ONLY A FEW WORDS OF SPANISH.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

- AGUACATE. - AGUACATE.

- OH. OH. - OH?

- EN INGLES, ES AVOCADO.

- AVOCA-- AVOCADO.

- SI. - AVOCADO.

- Both: AVOCADO.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- FOOD.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

IK? - IK.

- Both: IK. IK.

[ BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- Both: CANDLE.

- CANDLE.

- A CANDEL.

- CANDEL.

- YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK I COMPLETELY SAW MYSELF

IN A LOT OF THEM. YOU KNOW, I WAS, LIKE,

EAGER TO LEARN, WHERE YOU'RE, LIKE, SO

EXCITED ABOUT BUILDING LITTLE THINGS OUTSIDE

OF OUR HOUSE, AND, YOU KNOW,

THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR MY CHILDHOOD,

AND REALIZING THAT IT IS THE SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN

THAT'S HOLDING THEM BACK, NOT WHO THEY ARE.

- HEY. COMO ESTAS ?

- HOW...

- HOW ARE YOU?

- HOW ARE YOU?

- HOW ARE YOU?

- "HOW...ARE...YOU?"

[ ROOSTER CROWS ]

THE REBAN ARE GROWING.

- I KNOW.

- I'M GONNA PAY OFF ON MY FINANCE LOAN.

- [ SNIFFS ] - I'M GONNA EAT MORE.

- [ CHUCKLES ] - IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, MAN.

I CAN SENSE IT ALREADY.

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- VERY CLUMPY, THOUGH.

- THEY ARE REALLY CLUMPY.

THAT'S BAD, RIGHT?

- EVERYTHING ABOUT A BANANA

JUST BRINGS ME JOY HERE.

YOU PEEL IT BACK. IT'S NAKED.

IT'S A NAKED FRUIT.

- [ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

- I JUST TAKE A BITE AND SAVOR IT...

EACH TIME LIKE IT'S THE BEST BITE OF BANANA I WILL EVER TAKE,

EVERY SINGLE TIME.

- I JUST MAKE SURE, LIKE, THE TOP OF THE BANANA IS ALWAYS EVEN AFTER.

- OH, YEAH. YEAH.

LIKE, YOUR TEETH MARKS KIND OF INDENT IT LIKE THIS.

- YEAH. - SO THEN YOU GOT TO PLAY THE GAME AND, LIKE,

REVERSE THE BITE.

- OH, NICE. YEAH. MOVE IT UP.

- SO THAT IT'S EVEN, YOU KNOW?

AND IT SLOWS DOWN YOUR EATING, TOO.

- AS ECONOMICS MAJORS, CHRIS AND I WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN,

HOW DID A PERSON LIVING UNDER A DOLLAR A DAY MANAGE THEIR MONEY?

- SO WE WERE ASKING PEOPLE QUESTIONS LIKE,

"HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU MAKE?

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPENSES?

WHERE DO YOU SAVE MONEY?

DO YOU HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING LOANS?"

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE REALLY PERSONAL QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE.

- HOLA. BUENAS TARDES.

- HOLA. BUENAS.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- ANTHONY AND, I THINK, THE FIRST WEEK WE WERE THERE,

HE WAS, LIKE, THE FIRST GROWN-UP FROM THE COMMUNITY TO COME

TO OUR HOUSE, INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS SO EXCITED TO MEET US.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ GRUNTS ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

AH. SEE?

- JUST 24 AND 20 YEARS OLD,

ANTHONY AND ROSA ALREADY MANAGE

A HOUSEHOLD OF EIGHT PEOPLE.

- MM. - [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ BABY COOS ]

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- OH. - NO?

- [ BABY CRYING ] - [ CHUCKLES ]

AS A FAMILY, THEY SURVIVE ON $1.25 EACH PER DAY

TO PAY FOR NOT ONLY FOOD, BUT LARGER COSTS OF A NEW BABY,

THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION,

AND REPAIRS TO THEIR HOUSE.

- LIKE, HIS WIFE IS 20.

I'M 20. AND SHE HAS THREE CHILDREN.

- GOT MARRIED WHEN SHE WAS 14. - HIS WIFE'S YOUNGER THAN ME, DUDE.

- HE'S 24.

- I LOOK UP TO HER SO MUCH.

[ BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH ]

THEY'RE TEACHING US HOW TO MORE EFFICIENTLY MAKE FIRES...

COOK MORE SUBSTANTIVE FOOD...

AND BETTER BARGAIN IN TOWN.

LIVING SO CLOSE TO THE EDGE,

THESE SMALL CHANGES ARE HAVING HUGE IMPACTS ON OUR LIVES.

PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS LARD.

WE BOUGHT SOME STRAIGHT LARD

TODAY IN TOWN TO TRY TO ADD TO OUR FAT CONTENT.

IF YOU COULD FEEL THIS TEXTURE

RIGHT NOW, IT IS ONE OF THE FOULEST THINGS EVER.

[ SIZZLING ]

THIS LARD RIGHT HERE HAS -- WHAT WAS IT --

208 GRAMS OF FAT AND 1,800 CALORIES,

WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF MORE THAN THE RICE

OR BEANS THAT WE WERE EATING.

- AND WE STARTED MASHING OUR BEANS

AND REFRYING OUR BEANS IN LARD.

IT'S SO GOOD IN THE STOMACH.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

IN OUR THIRD WEEK, THEY INVITED

US OVER TO THEIR HOME FOR A SMALL SNACK.

BUT WHEN WE ARRIVED, THEY WERE PREPARING

THE TRADITIONAL MEAL OF PULICK

SERVED ONLY TWICE A YEAR FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

- OH! OH! - ÀSI?

- SI. - CLARO.

- CLARO. - MMM.

- SEAN, YOU CAN SIT DOWN.

- YEAH.

- HE WANTS TO SAY A FEW THINGS TO THE CAMERA.

- OH. SI.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS A MI HERMANO.

- YES. [ CHUCKLES ]

- OUR DESIRE TO REPAY ANTHONY AND ROSA,

NOT ONLY FOR THE EXPENSE OF THE INCREDIBLE FOOD

BUT ALSO THEIR GENEROSITY, IS OVERWHELMING.

THEY HAVE SO LITTLE, YET THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE SO MUCH.

WE ALL AGREED THAT, SOMEHOW, WE WILL SAVE THE MONEY TO COOK

THEM A PULICK DINNER BEFORE WE GO.

- WE HAVE LIKE 60.

IT'S ONLY THREE DAYS.

WE CAN JUST DECREASE OUR AMOUNT.

WE CAN GET LIKE, YOU KNOW,

A POUND AND A HALF.

I MEAN, I DON'T THINK WE EVEN REALLY NEED TO DIP INTO OUR

SAVINGS THAT MUCH...

- YEAH. - ...AT ALL.

- THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

- IF WE JUST WANT TO, LIKE, NOT EAT VERY MUCH.

- [ SHIVERS, SNIFFLES ]

[ ROOSTER CROWS ]

- I DREW A LOW NUMBER TODAY,

SO WE'RE HAVING SOME...

STRUGGLES WITH HOW WE NEED TO PAY ANTHONY'S FAMILY BACK

AND ALSO PAY OFF OUR LOAN, WHICH IS DUE IN THREE DAYS.

SO...

- WE DREW REALLY LOW NUMBERS FOR FOUR DAYS.

I PULLED FOUR NUMBERS IN A ROW,

AND TWO OF THEM WERE ZEROS,

AND TWO OF THEM WERE ONES.

SO AMONGST THE FOUR OF US,

WE HAD 12 CENTS A PERSON TO LIVE ON, PER DAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOKE UP,

AND IT WAS MARKET DAY, AND WE LITERALLY HAVE NO MONEY FOR FOOD.

- OPEN THE OTHER ONE NOW.

[ HINGES SQUEAK ]

- LET'S SEE IT.

- IT'S A NINE.

- NO WAY! - NO!

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- YEAH! - SEANY BOY!

- DUDE, YOU'RE THE CLUTCHEST PULLER IN THE WORLD!

- [ GIGGLES ] - IT'S A MOSH PIT!

- WHOO! - YES!

- OH, MY GOD! - DUDE, SO HUGE.

- BANANAS FOR EVERYONE!

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- WE GOT LUCKY AND PULLED A NINE.

BUT WHAT IF YOU'RE OUT OF FOOD

AND YOU DON'T KNOW THE NEXT TIME MONEY WILL BE COMING IN?

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN

FEEDING YOUR CHILD OR KEEPING THEM IN SCHOOL?

[ WATER SPLASHING ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- Both: SI.

- Both: SI.

- IT'S...

- DAY 28. RIGHT? DAY 28?

- DAY 28. YEAH.

- WE HAD STARTED TO DO THESE REALLY AMAZING INTERVIEWS

AROUND THE FOURTH WEEK.

AND CHRIS AND I SPOKE SPANISH, SO WE WERE UNDERSTANDING

EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON, AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD STARTED

TO BE AFFECTED BY THESE STORIES, BUT RYAN AND SEAN

DIDN'T SPEAK SPANISH.

AND THEY WERE TALKING, AND THEY WERE LIKE, "WHEN YOU FINALLY

DEAL WITH LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE, IT'S NOT SO BAD."

- NO PROBLEM -- IT'S NOT THAT HARD, YOU KNOW?

WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH.

I COULD DO THIS FOR ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS.

- I JUST GOT REALLY ANGRY AND UPSET BECAUSE, CLEARLY,

THE PEOPLE WE'RE AROUND, YOU KNOW,

THEY HAD LEARNED TO SURVIVE.

BUT IT WASN'T OKAY.

AND IT WASN'T EASY FOR THEM, AND THEY HAD TO, LIKE,

WORK SO HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THEY COULDN'T FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS,

BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GO TO SCHOOL, AND 'CAUSE THEY HAD TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY.

AND CHRIS AND I WERE SO INVOLVED

WITH THIS RESEARCH THAT WE WEREN'T SHARING WHAT WAS GOING ON.

- WHAT WERE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS IN GENERAL?

I MEAN, I GUESS I DON'T REALLY

EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS WERE ASKING.

- WE STARTED GETTING INTO WHERE

ALL THEIR INCOME WAS COMING FROM AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE, WHAT

SKILLS THEY USE TO WORK AND WHAT

THEY REALLY DEAL WITH TO FIND

MONEY IN EMERGENCIES, AND, YOU KNOW THEIR LIVES ARE

SO MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN OUR INITIAL INTERVIEWS SHOWED.

- EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WHAT YOU COOK WITH IS IMPORTANT.

A BROKEN STOVE OR COOKING OVER AN OPEN FIRE CAN HAVE DRAMATIC

EFFECTS ON THE HEALTH OF A FAMILY, ESPECIALLY ON THE KIDS.

[ BABY CRYING ]

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

IT'S INCREDIBLY HARD TO SAVE UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY

FOR A COOKING STOVE, BUT ANTHONY DID IT WITH 12 OF HIS FRIENDS

BY USING AN INNOVATIVE IDEA CALLED A SAVINGS CLUB.

TOGETHER, THEY EACH DECIDED TO SAVE $12 EVERY MONTH.

AND AT THE END OF EACH MONTH,

THE TOTAL SUM OF $144 WOULD BE

RANDOMLY DISTRIBUTED TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS.

THIS PROCESS THEN REPEATS

ITSELF UNTIL EACH PERSON HAS

BENEFITED FROM A LARGE SUM OF MONEY AT A SINGLE TIME.

- AND THAT LARGE SUM OF MONEY WAS MUCH MORE USEFUL TO THEM

BECAUSE THEY COULD TAKE THAT MONEY AND SPEND IT

ON A BIG-TICKET ITEM LIKE A STOVE

OR MAYBE PAY FOR A WEDDING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY INNOVATIVE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW CLOSE THIS COMMUNITY WAS,

AND WE HANG OUT WITH CHINO EVERY DAY.

AND HIS MOM, THIS PAST YEAR, GOT REALLY SICK, AND THEY DON'T EVEN

HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO, YOU KNOW, GET A CAR TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL

IN TOWN, AND ANTHONY COVERED THE ENTIRE THING.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- AND ANTHONY ACTUALLY PAID FOR

THEM TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE PAID FOR THE DOCTOR'S VISITS.

- AND THE MEDICINE. - AND THE MEDICINE.

- ANTHONY CAN AFFORD THE LOAN

BECAUSE HE'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE VILLAGE WHO HAS

A FORMAL JOB.

UNLIKE EVERYONE ELSE, HE CAN

COUNT ON GETTING A REGULAR PAYCHECK.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- AND WHILE ANTHONY DID HELP

THESE OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE,

THAT'S STILL A HUGE STRAIN ON THEIR OWN FINANCES.

YEAH, THAT'S WHERE, LIKE,

IF THERE WAS AN INSTITUTION WILLING

TO TAKE ON THAT RISK AND LEND

TO SOMEONE LIKE CHINO'S PARENTS,

YOU KNOW, THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT A STRAIN ON ANTONIO.

- AND, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT COMMUNITY AROUND THEM

OR THE PEOPLE THEY CAN GO TO IN TIMES OF NEED.

- AND, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT --

- HOLA. - HOLA.

- HOLA, CHINO.

- CHRIS.

WHAT'S UP, CHINO?

- ZACH, HOLA. COMO ESTAS?

- BIEN. BIEN.

- HOW ARE YOU? - [ CHUCKLES ]

QUE BUENO.

GOOD. I AM GOOD.

- YOU LOOK NICE. - HOW ARE YOU?

- HOW ARE YOU?

- GOOD.

- SI. BUENO.

SO, YEAH, NOT EVERYONE HAS, YOU KNOW, SUCH A TIGHT-KNIT

COMMUNITY AROUND THEM.

- SO, IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY LIKE CHINO'S PARENTS HERE, LIKE,

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PERSON RIGHT

NEXT TO YOU OR YOU DON'T HAVE THE EMERGENCY FUNDS

OR THAT COMMUNITY TO RELY ON?

- THAT'S TRUE.

- ACTUALLY, TEMPLE IS PRETTY SICK AT THE MOMENT.

HE'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPSET TUMMY.

- [ CHUCKLES ]

- AT ONE POINT, I HAD BOTH GIARDIA AND E. COLI AT THE SAME TIME,

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NO GOOD,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE TWO PAIRS OF BOXERS

AND YOU'RE SLEEPING, YOU KNOW, ON THE SAME MAT,

SHARING A BLANKET WITH SOMEONE NEXT TO YOU.

- I think Chris is really sick.

I just heard him get up.

It just doesn't sound like he's

doing very well.

- Dude, I think I have that

like sulfuric burp thing happening again.

[ BURPS LOUDLY ]

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

Like, I can't even push on my stomach.

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

I can't sleep another night like this.

- WE'RE GONNA GO GET CHRIS TESTED FOR SOME BACTERIAL

INFECTIONS AND SEE IF HE HAS A PARASITE, OR, HOPEFULLY,

IT'S JUST A STOMACH THING.

- TODAY, IN TOWN, WE FOUND OUT

THAT CHRIS HAS SOME PARASITES IN HIS STOMACH.

- IT'S CALLED GIARDIA --

GIARDIA, I BELIEVE.

AND IT'S, LIKE, LIVING IN MY SMALL INTESTINE IN HERE.

AND IT CAUSES, LIKE, EXCESSIVE

BLOATING AND STOMACH PRESSURE.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- DOSCIENTOS QUETZALES.

- THE MEDICINE IS 200 QUETZALES.

SO EVEN IF PEOPLE COULD AFFORD TO GET TESTED,

IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO ACTUALLY GET THE MEDICINE.

- THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD PAY THAT COST.

I HAVE TO USE MEDICINE THAT WE BROUGHT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

IF WE CAN'T BUDGET FOR A SIMPLE SICKNESS, WHAT WILL WE DO

IN THE CASE OF A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM?

JUST TWO MONTHS BEFORE WE ARRIVED, HURRICANE AGATHA

SMASHED THROUGH GUATEMALA.

- DISASTER WORKERS IN GUATEMALA

SAY AT LEAST A DOZEN PEOPLE ARE DEAD.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- THE TROPICAL STORM AGATHA

SLAMMED INTO ITS PACIFIC COAST SATURDAY.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- IF YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING,

HOW DO YOU GET THE MONEY TO GET BACK ON YOUR FEET?

HOW DO YOU BEGIN BUILDING A LUMP SUM TO START A BUSINESS?

WE WANTED TO SEE IF GETTING A LOAN FROM A TRADITIONAL BANK

WAS EVEN AN OPTION FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

- OKAY, SO, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT THE CAMERA DOWN

INITIALLY, I THINK, UNLESS YOU WANT ME JUST, LIKE,

THROUGH THE DOOR AND THEN PUT IT DOWN.

- YEAH. - BUENA, BUENAS.

WE CAN'T TAKE PHOTOS INSIDE.

SO, UM...

ARE YOU, UH, GOING FOR THE, UH, DISCREET FILM?

- YEAH. - YEAH, SWEET.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- LET'S GET OUT. LET'S GET OUT.

LET'S GET OUT. LET'S GET OUT.

- THAT WAS HIGHLY ILLEGAL TO BE DOING.

SO, I TRIED TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A 3,000-QUETZALE LOAN.

AND THE PROBLEM IS WE NEED ALL OF THESE OTHER ITEMS.

WE NEED A RECEIPT OF OUR ELECTRICITY BILLS.

WE NEED AN N.I.T. NUMBER,

WHICH SHE SAID COSTS A BUNCH OF MONEY TO GET.

WE NEED A COPY OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE MAKING,

WHICH I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET IF WE AN INFORMAL JOB.

BILLS FROM THE LAST THREE MONTHS,

TWO PEOPLE WHO WILL SIGN FOR US, AND THEN WE NEED TO BE

ABLE TO SIGN OUR NAME, TOO.

THERE'S NO CHANCE WE COULD GET A LOAN FROM THAT BANK.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY.

- WE VISITED ROSA AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS.

GRAMEEN PROVIDES RELIABLE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND LOANS

DESIGNED TO EMPOWER THE POOREST

OF THE POOR TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

WITH A LOAN OF JUST $200, ROSA WAS ABLE TO START HER OWN WEAVING BUSINESS.

- IT WAS SO HUGE TO SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR WHAT EVEN

THE SIMPLE ACCESS TO CREDIT CAN DO

IN THE LIVES OF OUR NEIGHBORS,

OF OUR CLOSE FRIENDS.

- AH, SI. OH.

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]

- WHEN A GRAMEEN BORROWER RECEIVES A LOAN,

THEY ALSO COMMIT TO OPENING A LONG-TERM

SAVINGS ACCOUNT, A SAFE AND A CONVENIENT WAY

TO BUILD UP A LARGE SUM OF MONEY.

WE FOUND THAT BEYOND USING A LOAN OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO

TO START A BUSINESS, OUR NEIGHBORS

WERE USING THEM TO ABSORB SHOCKS AND MAKE INVESTMENTS

AROUND THE HOUSE.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- THESE FINANCIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS MICROFINANCE,

THEY GO FAR BEYOND JUST PROVIDING EXTRA CAPITAL.

THEY REALLY SHAPE THE FAMILY.

AND THEY HAVE THESE SIDE EFFECTS

OF EMPOWERING WOMEN.

FINALLY, WE HAVE REBANOS.

WE HAVE GROWN OUR REBANOS.

AND NOW WE HAVE TONS AND TONS OF REBANOS.

- WHAT HAPPENED IS THERE'S AN EXPLOSION OF REBANOS.

- INSTEAD OF SELLING OUR RADISHES, WE'RE GIVING THEM OUT

AS GIFTS TO THANK THE PEOPLE WE'VE INTERVIEWED.

THESE RADISHES REPRESENT A NEW SOURCE OF INCOME FOR US,

ONE THAT COULD MOVE US CLOSER TO $2 A DAY.

WHILE THAT STILL DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MUCH, IT WOULD DOUBLE OUR LIVELIHOOD.

- AND IT'S KIND OF THOSE SMALL, INCREMENTAL CHANGES THAT

ACTUALLY HAVE SUCH A PROFOUND

EFFECT ON PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING AT THAT LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THAT WILL HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT

ON THE NEXT GENERATION OF THAT FAMILY,

THAT IT'S REALLY THERE THAT WE'LL SEE PROGRESS OUT OF POVERTY.

[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- SO, AFTER ALL OF THIS RESEARCH,

WE HAD SAVED UP THE WHOLE TIME FOR THIS PULICK DINNER.

IT WAS JUST THIS AMAZING MOMENT,

AND THAT WAS THE LAST DAY THAT WE WERE THERE.

- * A LITTLE BIT OF MONICA IN MY LIFE *

* A LITTLE BIT OF ERICA BY MY SIDE *

* A LITTLE BIT OF RITA'S ALL I NEED *

* A LITTLE BIT OF TINA'S WHAT I SEE *

* A LITTLE BIT OF SANDRA IN THE SUN *

- WE WANTED TO CONVEY JUST, LIKE, HOW APPRECIATIVE WE WERE

OF WHAT THEY HAD DONE FOR US.

NOT ONLY FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY HAD SHARED WITH US,

BUT BEING OUR FRIENDS AND, YOU KNOW,

BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH US,

AND IN MANY WAYS TEACHING US AND

ACCEPTING US AS A FRIEND INSTEAD

OF JUST, YOU KNOW, A FOREIGNER.

- * MAMBO NUMBER FIVE!

* AAH!

- WHAT CAN I DO AS AN INDIVIDUAL?

- THAT'S THE HARDEST PART ABOUT IT,

AND WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT, IS...

THAT THERE IS NO ONE ANSWER, YOU KNOW?

THAT WE'VE POURED THREE -- YOU KNOW,

$2.5 TRILLION INTO INTERNATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT TRYING TO END POVERTY, AND A LOT OF TIMES

IT'S JUST MADE THINGS WORSE.

BUT, LIKE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVE SO MUCH

RIGHT HERE IS THE POWER OF PARTIAL SOLUTIONS

THAT, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

THERE'S MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT LIVING IN POVERTY THAN THERE ARE

WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

LIKE, EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN AFFECT

AND HELP A SINGLE OTHER INDIVIDUAL.

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

HELLO. - HELLO.

- HOW ARE YOU? - GOOD. THANK YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

- I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

- MY NAME IS CARLOS.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? - MY NAME IS CHRIS.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. - IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

- [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- GOOD MORNING.

- All: GOOD MORNING.

- HOW ARE YOU?

- All: HOW ARE YOU?

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- HOW ARE YOU? - All: GOOD.

- GOOD. SI.

- WHAT... - ...IS...

- ...IS... - ...YOUR...

- ...YOUR... - ...NAME?

- ...NAME? - [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

- I NOW HAVE A MUCH DEEPER RESPECT FOR SOMEONE LIVING AT THAT LEVEL.

I PERSONALLY -- I LOST 20 POUNDS IN JUST TWO MONTHS.

AND I GOT TO GO HOME AND REHABILITATE,

BUT WHAT IF THAT'S SOMEONE'S LIFE WHERE THEY LIVE

LIKE THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT,

WITH NO NUTRITION AND NOT AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FOOD?

- IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD NEVER HAVE, YOU KNOW, IMAGINED.

IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO LIVE.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

- GRACIAS, TONE.

OHH, SI.

- MUCHAS GRACIAS.

- OH, ZACH! CAN WE HAVE IT? CAN WE HAVE IT?

LOOK, IT'S A CHICKEN! CAN WE HAVE IT, ZACH?

I REALLY -- [ DOG BARKING ]

- [ LAUGHS ]