Politician uses “Pepito” persona to connect with Guatemalan families

Ricardo Hernández of Guatemala began performing as a character named “Pepito” nearly two decades ago to connect with young people and has since extended his work to support entire families and advocate for children’s needs.

Hernández initially used makeup to gain the attention of street youth, and Pepito evolved into a tool for discussing rights, civic participation, and family issues.

He now officially registers as “Movimiento RIHEPEPITO” and balances social work with providing technical expertise to government entities focused on childhood and women’s issues. The work became deeply personal when Hernández met Junior, a boy he hoped to see graduate, who was later killed. This experience reinforced Hernández’s belief that adults must understand the circumstances surrounding a child’s behavior, including poverty, violence, and family issues, before judging them.

He now sees a second generation benefiting from his programs, like Juan Pablo, a 12-year-old achieving an 82 average in school through a tutoring program. Hernández also extended Pepito’s reach to adults, using nostalgic games and songs to encourage parents to reflect on their own childhoods and improve their relationships with their children.

Even during the pandemic, when he faced job loss, Hernández found renewed purpose after a woman experiencing homelessness offered to share her food with him, inspiring him to continue his work and expand it to include support for women living on the streets. He now advocates for more than just written plans, believing children need basic necessities and opportunities.