Bryon (22), Gladys (29) and little Gladys (Gladysita) (7)

Gladys has been living on the street since her father died when she was 15. Bryon has been on the street since he was five, and has no idea where he came from or what was before then. He and Gladys have been together for almost four years, and are now living in a bedroom in her sister's house – they are trying to get off the streets by selling gum, pens and postcards on the street.

When Gladys gave birth to her daughter the social workers advised her to give her up "She'll be dead in three days anyway" was what they said. But Gladys refused – she believes the social worker wanted to sell the baby. One of the greatest fears of poor mothers in Guatemala are 'robachicos', [childstealers]. A loophole in Guatemalan law is systematically abused by traffickers supplying newborn babies illegally to the US adoption market for up to $30,000. Gladys was pregnant with Bryon's son a year ago, but while he was in prison for theft, she lost the child when she was attacked at night and repeatedly stabbed in the stomach.