The Mennonites of Bolivia - in pictures

Getty Images’ Grants for Editorial Photography, sees five photojournalists each receive a grant of US$10,000, as well as collaborative editorial support from Getty Images, to pursue projects of personal and journalistic significance.

Jordi Busqué’s award-winning portfolio, The Mennonites of Bolivia, documents the lives of the Mennonites, a relatively unknown religious community of European descent, in eastern Bolivia. As the 21st century brings modernity almost everywhere, the Mennonite way of life has remained unchanged since the 16th Century, with this group choosing to live in isolated farming communities and remaining fiercely protective of their privacy.

Bolivia. Durango colony. Mennonite family in front of their house. From right to left: Gerhard Klassen (36), Anna Bren (35) with baby Sarah (1), Heinrich (13), Peter (12), Eva (11), Catarina (9), Anna (8), Gerhard (6), Elisabet (5), Elena (3) and Jacob (2).
A Mennonite family in front of their house in the Durango colony. From right to left: Gerhard Klassen (36), Anna Bren (35) with baby Sarah (1), Heinrich (13), Peter (12), Eva (11), Catarina (9), Anna (8), Gerhard (6), Elisabet (5), Elena (3) and Jacob (2). Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Mennonite women in the Los Pozos market in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Several times a year the Mennonites need to visit the city to get the things they cannot produce in their colonies.
Mennonite women in the Los Pozos market in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Several times a year Mennonites need to visit the city to get the things they cannot produce in their colonies. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
A Mennonite home in the Durango colony. The farm belongs to Isaac Banman and his wife Susana. They live here with their 12 sons and daughters.
A Mennonite home in the Durango colony. The farm belongs to Isaac Banman and his wife Susana. They live here with their 12 sons and daughters. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Mennonite family supper at Isaac Banman's home
Mennonite family supper at Isaac Banman’s home at the Durango Colony in Tarija. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
A Mennonite woman giving birth in the Nueva Esperanza colony, in Santa Cruz
A Mennonite woman giving birth in the Nueva Esperanza colony, in Santa Cruz. Frans and Elisabeth are going to meet their sixth son. The doctor Abraham Newsted and the nurse are both self-taught. Photograph: Jordi Busque/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Colonia Oriente. Mennonite wedding. The bride Sarah Suderman  looking at the groom Abraham Henz at a break with the other young members of the Mennonite Colony.
Mennonite wedding in Colonia Oriente. The bride Sarah Suderman looks at the groom Abraham Henz during a break with the other young members of the Colony. They are both in their early 20s. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Mennonite men praying during the most dramatic moment in mass at the Manitoba colony
Mennonite men praying during the most dramatic moment in mass at the Manitoba colony. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Manitoba Mennonite colony. Girls and boys meet on Sunday to find partners among other things. They do so freely and, since their parents are absent, do forbidden things like drinking alcohol, listen to music or dance.
Manitoba Mennonite colony. Girls and boys meet on Sunday to find partners among other things. They do so freely and, since their parents are absent, do forbidden things like listen to music or dance... Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Manitoba Mennonite colony. It is forbidden to drink alcohol, but when the parents are not around on Sunday...
...and drink alcohol. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Mennonite funeral of Ana Derkzen, aged 82.
A Mennonite funeral of Ana Derkzen, aged 82 in the Neu Bergthal colony. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Mennonite girls going to school at 6:30 a.m. (the class starts at 7 a.m.) in the Swift Current colony
Mennonite girls going to school at 6:30 a.m. (the class starts at 7 a.m.) in the Swift Current colony. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
The school of professor Abraham Neufeld in the Mennonite colony Belice
The school of professor Abraham Neufeld in the Mennonite colony Belice. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Mennonite women driving their horse and cart through the Nueva Esperanza colony
Mennonite women driving their horse and cart through the Nueva Esperanza colony. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
School of campo 4 in Colonia El Breal, Chaco. Baimin Guenther is the teacher of this school.
School of campo 4 in Colonia El Breal, Chaco. Baimin Guenther is the teacher of this school. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Professor Peter Janzen's school
Professor Peter Janzen's school. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014
Night at Maria Fehr farm, Colonia Oriente. Mennonites like to spend some time chatting under the stars before going to sleep.
Night at Maria Fehr farm, Colonia Oriente. Mennonites like to spend some time chatting under the stars before going to sleep. Photograph: Jordi Busqué/Getty Images Grant recipient 2014

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