CONCEPCIÓN – Expo Norte, recently held in Concepción, was more than just a dazzling showcase for large corporations and startups. For marginalized families who rely on informal labor, it ignited a small flame of hope. Behind the expo's bright lights and magnificent stages, a different story of quiet sacrifice and future aspirations was unfolding.
A week before the expo began, dozens of impoverished families started gathering in Concepción. With their meager belongings, they carried a fervent hope: that this fair would provide an opportunity to make a living for their families. A makeshift shantytown sprung up around the fairgrounds, filled with old tarps, makeshift stone kitchens, and worn-out mattresses. Inside, adults, teenagers, and children all worked together.
Some people wandered through the fairgrounds, collecting and selling discarded cans and plastic bottles. Others set up small stalls selling drinks and simple street food. One woman, who endures this grueling routine every year, said with a bitter smile, "We can earn a little more money during the expo than at any other time. It's not that we want our children to help, but it's the only way for our family to survive."
Indigenous communities also find a temporary respite through the expo. Women with babies cradled in their arms walked the streets, selling handmade crafts like necklaces, bracelets, and textiles. These creations, born of patience and tradition, are not merely accessories but carriers of their culture, and at the same time, a vital means of securing their daily livelihood. One craftswoman shyly smiled and said, "I always come back here because people buy our things. The money we earn is used to feed our children."
At night, while visitors enjoy the glamorous performances, a different scene unfolds near the fairground exits. Vendors selling hamburgers, empanadas, and chipas (Paraguayan cheese bread) serve customers around the clock. For them, every coin they earn is a precious source of income that goes toward necessities, school supplies, or medicine.
From this perspective, Expo Norte is more than just a livestock, industrial, and commercial exhibition. It has become a huge economic engine that offers a lifeline to those who have limited opportunities. For these families, the expo is not about entertainment or luxury, but a true opportunity for labor and a dignified way to provide for their children. For just a few days, hope moves a little closer to reality.
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