Aurolac is a chemical substance inhaled by many young people on the streets of Bucarest, Romania.A common misconception is that it is a glue, however, in reality it is a chemical composition used to prevent rusting on cars and is inexpensively found in any hardware store selling at around 2 euro for a quarter-liter container.The “children of the tunnels” range from the ages of 10-30 and are all sons and daughters of families that with the fall of communism lost everything and have found themselves on the streets living in underground tunnels-the sewers of the city constructed by Romania’s former communist leader, Nicolae Ceauşescu.The typical life of an aurolac “sniffer” usually doesn’t live beyond 35 years old because the substance’s devastating pulmonary and neurological effects The association that looks after the lives of these young people is called Parada.It was founded by an French ex-clown, who does nocturnal performances in attempt to draw in the kids off the street. He also has a community center where they can eat, shower, and learn to become jugglers themselves.One of the ways in which the Parada finances itself is by organizing European tours where the children can do street performances. This funds the Parada association and gives the possibility to the young to stay off of the streets and sewers of Bucarest.
All names have been changed to respect the privacy of those involved.