We Are Still Waiting – 43
We Are Still Waiting – 43 is a documentary project that gives voice and face to the families of the 43 students forcibly disappeared in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, in September 2014. Through portraits, testimonies, and editorial materials, the project aims to shed light on the relentless struggle of the mothers and fathers who, ever since, have not stopped demanding justice, truth, and remembrance.

DNA
Human – Political – Social – Emotional – Documentary – Conscious – Raw – Real

STRATEGY
- Ethnographic Research
- Social Impact Narrative
- Editorial Storytelling
- Cultural Preservation
- Visual Identity & Design

Brand Identity, Logo Design, Editorial Design, Prepress, and Digital Assets.

Inspired by the depth and sensitivity of Scott Brennan’s photographic work, the visual development of the project focused on building a narrative that honored the dignity of the families portrayed. Clean grids and a sober editorial design were used to present the portraits and testimonies with clarity, without distracting from their powerful emotional and political message. The goal was to create a visual language that is honest, sensitive, and impactful—serving as both a document of memory and a form of protest.

TEAM
Mafer Graf: Creative Concept, Brand Identity, Editorial Design, Prepress, Digital Assets
Scott Brennan: Photography and Fieldwork

Scott Brennan Letter

During the night of September 26th and early morning of the 27th, 2014, in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, students from the Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers' College of Ayotzinapa were attacked by municipal police while traveling on buses toward Chilpancingo. During the confrontation, three students were killed—one was found the next day showing signs of torture and with his face skinned. Another remains in a coma. Other non-student civilians were also killed or injured. Forty-three of the students were forcibly disappeared without a trace of their whereabouts.
The families of the 43 missing students, along with the mother of one executed student, began a protest movement to demand not only the return of their children but also a thorough investigation and justice for what happened that tragic night. They have received international support, led national and international caravans (across the Americas and Europe), and met with heads of state—all in the hope that international pressure would compel the Mexican government to act.
Strong evidence points to the involvement of federal police and military forces that night. A report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) rejected the Mexican government’s official conclusions as physically impossible and contradictory. The IACHR's independent investigation found clear evidence of official cover-ups, destruction of evidence, signs of torture among suspects, and systematic efforts to hide the case across all levels of government. After intense international scrutiny and on the anniversary of the disappearances, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto reversed his public stance and agreed to meet again with the victims’ families, announcing a new line of investigation. Previously, he had urged the families to "move on" in order to heal—perhaps.
The movement led by the families of the 43 has galvanized the country. It has become a symbol and urgent call for justice in a Mexico long plagued by corruption, impunity, and violence—particularly since 2006, when former president Felipe Calderón declared war on organized crime.
I had the honor of working closely with the families of the 43 during July and August 2015, just before the one-year anniversary of the disappearance. The following images are their portraits and their testimonies. One of the women photographed is the mother of two missing students. One family declined to be photographed, and one mother, whose son was executed, joined the movement. That is why there are 42 portraits shown here. The project also includes a letter written anonymously by some of the parents.

Los Estamos Esperando – 43
Scott Brennan
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