I photographed this boy in the playground of a youth centre run by Nicaragua’s YMCA – supported by the London-based charity Y Care International – in Managua. Located in the Acahualinca area of Managua, a very poor neighbourhood near the municipal garbage dump, the centre offers training and recreational activities for disadvantaged and working youth. They are encouraged to run their own facilities and the workshop makes among other things, swings and playground equipment like the one enjoyed by the boy in the picture.

Julio Etchart grew up in Uruguay and later settled in the UK where he studied Documentary Photography at Newport Art College.

He has since traveled round the world for the international media and has also worked as stills photographer, consultant and researcher for film and TV companies.
 Julio regularly takes commissions from recording labels, PR and touring agencies, promoters and magazines to cover musical events, festivals, dance and theater.

His work has included the production of audiovisual material and touring displays for Non Governmental Organizations like War on Want, Save The Children, OXFAM, Christian Aid, CAFOD, VSO, UNICEF, the British Council and the European Union.


Julio was a co-founder of Reportage Photos, and is now distributing his colour photographs online through Still Pictures and his black and white material through Panos Pictures in the UK. 
His portfolio features in the creative section of Getty Images, with examples of his portraits of business people and personalities of the art and political world.


After being awarded a World Press Photo First Prize in the Environment category, he produced ‘The Four Elements’, a touring exhibition on ecological issues, sponsored by the European Union.
 His long term project on children’s play around the world, ‘Toys’ has been published by Mets & Schilt of Amsterdam in Dutch, German and English. It is distributed by Pluto Books in the UK and the USA.

Photographer since 1983, EPUK member since 2006.