On most mornings, you can see him walking through the streets. His name is Dimitri. He is 12 years old. He is not going to play. He is going to hustle.
“No trash today?” That is Dimitri’s call every Saturday, with his wheelbarrow at hand, going from door to door to ask for trash to dispose of. But now, he can do it every day because he is on school break. He has a simple job. He goes from house to house and asks people if he can take their trash out for them in return for anything. He carries the bags to the communal bin down the street. It is a small service, but for Dimitri, it means helping himself.
He used to do this only on Saturdays, but now he does it almost every day. However, he has a strict rule for himself: the hustle never gets in the way of school. “I do it early in the morning or in the evening during school periods,” he says. “When school resumes, I will still go and do what gives me small money.
This is just my part-time job. It is better than staying idle.” The money people give him is small. Sometimes it’s just a few coins. But for him, this money is important. “I do not steal. I only do something to help myself.” This money helps him with food. It means he can save up for a new pair of shoes. He also uses it for school supplies a new pen, a notebook.
Sometimes, he can even buy a small snack. “In my pocket, I have something I worked for,” he explains. “I don’t have to beg. I don’t have to steal. I can look at myself and know I did something good.” The people on his route know him well. They see a young boy choosing hard work over trouble. They see his determination.
They are happy to help him because he is helping himself. 200, 300, 500 francs that is what people give him for his service. On a good day, he can make two thousand or more. He doesn’t only do that; he also goes around cleaning sellers’ stores, homes, and even cars, just to stay busy and earn a little something for himself.
When asked what his main difficulty is, Dimitri says, “When Hysacam passes, I can’t go carry trash again. That’s why I have to do things like cleaning and washing cars to make sure I still earn something for the day”.
