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A man riding a bicycle with a bag on his back.

El relato de Agostino Agostino's story

Written by LIDA Italia

Illustrated by Billie Cejka Risnes

Translated by Ibsen Hernández

Read by Oscar Javier Buitrago Espíndola

Language Spanish

Level Level 5

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


A man riding a bicycle with a bag on his back.

Me llamo Agostino y tengo 51 años de edad. Trabajo repartiendo comida en bicicleta. Tengo dos hijas, pero casi nunca hablamos. Su madre y yo ya no vivimos juntos porque nos divorciamos.

My name is Agostino and I am 51 years old. My job is delivering food by bicycle. I have two daughters, but we hardly ever speak. Their mother and I no longer live together because we are divorced.


A man looking outside through a window and a woman sitting behind him.

Vivo con mi madre porque no tengo dinero para pagar el alquiler después del divorcio. El alquiler es muy costoso en esta ciudad.

I live with my mother, as I cannot afford to pay rent after the divorce. Rent is very expensive in this city.


Two men standing in a workshop.

Hace un par de meses estaba trabajando como conserje para una compañía. Reparaba cosas que se dañaban, cargaba cajas y ayudaba cuando alguien lo necesitaba. Un día me despidieron de la compañía. No entendí el motivo.

A few months ago I was working as a janitor for a company. I repaired things that were broken, carried boxes, and helped when anyone needed it. One day the company fired me. I did not understand why.


A man knocking on a door.

Vi a mucha gente repartiendo comida en bicicleta. Yo sé montar en bicicleta, así que llamé a la puerta de una gran empresa de reparto. Me ofrecieron tres euros por cada entrega. Gano 40 euros al día, 60 euros si tengo mucha suerte y los clientes me dan propina.

I saw many people delivering food by bicycle. I can ride a bicycle, so I knocked on the door of a big delivery company. They offered me three euros for each delivery. I make 40€ per day, 60€ if I am very lucky and the customers tip me.


Three people riding bicycles thinking about holidays and medicine.

No tengo vacaciones pagadas, ni subsidio por enfermedad, apenas tengo derechos. No creo que eso sea correcto, pero necesito el trabajo. La mayoría de los demás empleados son inmigrantes de todo el mundo.

I get no paid holiday, no sick pay, hardly any rights at all. I do not think that is right, but I need the job. Most of the other employees are immigrants from all over the world.


A news reporter standing in front of a bicycle accident and ambulance.

Muchos repartidores sufren accidentes todos los días. Cuando un repartidor de 25 años murió atropellado por un automóvil, las autoridades empezaron a fijarse en nosotros. Es una pena que tuviera que morir antes de que eso ocurriera.

Many delivery people are injured in accidents every day. Then, when a 25-year-old deliveryman was hit by a car and died, the authorities started noticing us. It is a shame he had to die before that happened.


People sitting in a meeting.

Junto con repartidores de otras empresas, hice un curso sobre los derechos de los trabajadores con un sindicato local. Nos ofrecieron asesoramiento jurídico gratuito. Luchamos por obtener más reconocimiento y derechos.

Together with delivery people from other companies, I took a course on workers’ rights with a local union. They offered us legal advice free of charge. We struggled to get more recognition and rights.


Three men standing with their arms in the air and smiling in front of a picture of the world.

Después de mucho tiempo, todo nuestro arduo trabajo dio sus frutos. Una gran empresa de reparto tuvo que pagar una multa enorme y dar empleo fijo a los trabajadores. Era la primera vez que ocurría en todo el mundo. Parece que las cosas empiezan a mejorar.

After a long time all our hard work paid off. One big delivery company had to pay a huge fine and to give workers permanent jobs. It was the first time that had happened anywhere in the whole world. It looks like things are starting to improve.


Written by: LIDA Italia
Illustrated by: Billie Cejka Risnes
Translated by: Ibsen Hernández
Read by: Oscar Javier Buitrago Espíndola
Language: Spanish
Level: Level 5
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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