Rain or shine, weekday from March to December, boat owner Salvador Mitti Dieli Ferry ferries students from the Amazon River coast in Brazil to the only primary school on the miles Santa Rosa – The current subject of remote islands Territorial disputes between Peru and Colombia.
Mitti Dieri’s daily work is just an example of how the diplomatic conflict between the island’s two South American neighbours had little effect on their lives. Approximately 3,000 residents.
Peru claims to own Santa Rosa Island under a treaty a century ago, but Colombia is challenging its ownership.
Salvador Mitidieri will help school children board the boat after a class at Santa Rosa, Peru on Monday, August 18, 2025 (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
Despite the continued exchange of words among government officials, life in Santa Rosa continues uninterrupted. Although they identify as Peruvians, they coexist peacefully with their Colombian and Brazilian neighbours, often relying on those countries for basic needs.
Named after a 16th century saint, Santa Rosa does not have running water or sewage systems. People meet doctors across the river to cities in Colombia and Brazil, but the children in those places come here to attend school.
“The people in Colombia, Peru and Brazil live normally,” said Melanie Mezia, a 17-year-old Peruvian who lives in Tatta, Brazil but attends Santa Rosa’s middle school. “The merchants, tourists, people, everyone treats each other well,” she said.
Students attend school on Monday, August 18, 2025 on a boat at Salvador Mitti Dieri across the Amazon River from Tabatinga, Brazil to Santa Rosa, Peru (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
Boat operator Mitidieri begins his work day at Tabatinga Dock in Brazil, waiting for students to ferry to Santa Rosa’s only primary school.
“I’m calm here and working with my colleagues. We all know each other,” 36-year-old Mitty Dieri mentioned his foreign neighbor. He said he believes local relations have nothing to do with the conflict between the country and such leaders. Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia Just don’t know the reality of Amazon.
“The kids I bring will probably one day become doctors, lawyers, police officers,” he said.
Students will arrive at Santa Rosa, Peru, where they attend school on Monday, August 18, 2025, after crossing the Amazon River from Tabatinga, Brazil (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)
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