“This photo was taken during the first organized event of the San Nicolas Women’s Group. Six women came together to sell pasteles (a traditional dish, deep fried dough stuffed with potatoes) on Sunday April 13, 2014 in the middle of our small community. During our two hours of work we were surrounded by curious children, and while many younger girls jumped in and helped us cook, the boys sat far away, unwilling to participate since cooking is seen as women’s work. This photo shows one young boy, who, despite his friends taunting and laughing, decided he wanted to learn how to make pasteles. Here, with the help of a member of the Women’s Group, the boy is learning how to flatten the dough, the first step. The following Sunday, when the women got together to sell pupusas (a typical Salvadoran dish) the boy joined us again and helped us sell the food all over the community, using his bike to make deliveries.”
