Rosthand Akok, aged 13, he has 2 sisters and a brother. He does not go to school, he cultivates a field. When he saw his brother’s scooter, he made a similar one for himself. He can use it to bring things from the field. Mbege, Cameroon, 2009
Claudette Umutoni, aged 17, in the 2nd year of secondary school. She does not have parents, she lives with her aunt and her 12-year old son. Every day she gets up at 5 a.m. and falls asleep at 7 p.m. (an hour after the sunset). After school she helps with land cultivation (beans), she cooks (usually sweet potatoes) and in the morning she goes to church to pray. She won the Bible at a lottery organized every year around Christmas. It is the most important to her, because it helps her to know the Word of God and pray. She wants to be a doctor. She dreams that someone will help her study at school as she still lacks some money for the school fee. Nyakinama, Rwanda, 2010
Floriane Metenla, aged 12, she has a brother and 2 sisters, her father is dead, she lives with her mother. After school she prepares meals, most often kuskus from manioc with leaves. She can make kuskus only by means of the stick, which she has cut by herself in the forest. She wants to be a doctor. In her hand she is holding an egg, which she is going to cook and eat in a moment. Ouama, Cameroon, 2009
Grâce Uwizeyimana, aged 13, a 6th grade student of primary school. Her parents and sister are dead. She lives with her grandmother and 4 other children, cousins and members of her extended family. After school she fetches water home, collects brushwood and helps her grandmother prepare food. The radio belongs to her grandmother. She likes it, because it lets her listen to the news. She usually listens to a religious radio station. In the future she wants to be a nun. Her dream is to know more about God. Ruhango, Rwanda, 2010
Milang Sergie Brondon, aged 10, he has 3 sisters and a brother. After school he helps his mother to prepare food and then he plays football. He wants to be a policeman. He got the trousers from his mother, that’s why he likes them so much. Abong-Mbang, Cameroon, 2009
Oscarine Nahodo, aged 11, she has got 2 siblings, they live only with their mother. One day she is going to be a nurse and she is planning to live in a pretty house. She got the teddy bear from nuns. Betare-Oya, Cameroon, 2009
Roseline Mimbiol, 12 years old, she has 2 sisters and a brother. After school she washes the dishes and brings water. She picks coffee to her little woven basket from her mother and then she sells it. When she grows up, she is going to be a doctor. Ouama, Cameroon, 2009
Sophonie Mingous, aged 11, 6 siblings, they live with their parents. After school he cuts the grass with his machete around the house an on the coffee field. He wants to be a priest, he dreams of working. Ouama, Cameroon, 2009
Renata Niranze, aged 14, a 4th grade student of primary school. Her father was killed in the field, probably during the war. She lives with her mother and 4 siblings. After school she fetches water. The mat was made for her by her mother. It is very important to her, because she sleeps on it. She dreams to have a real mattress. In the future she wants to be a nun to serve God. Rutshuru, DR Congo, 2010
Sebishimbo Sibomana, aged 15, in the 1st year of secondary school. His parents are dead. His mother died 5 years ago, his father – much earlier, he does not even remember him. He lives only with a handicapped brother, who is 10. After school he works in the field rented from a Katale coffee factory and grows beans. He got the pot last Christmas from the distribution to orphans carried out by the Sisters. Without the pot he would not be able to prepare food for himself. He usually has beans or cooks bananas (plantains). He wants to be a nurse. He dreams of peace. The house where he lives was built within the framework of the Maitri project, realized by the Sisters. It cost $400. Their house was very old and it collapsed during a gale. Ntamugenga, DR Congo, 2010
Adjea Biber Boris, aged 12, he has a sister and 5 brothers. In the future he wants to be a mechanic. The marionette was made by himself from his brothers’ things, he saw a similar one in Yaounde, the capital city, which he has visited 3 times. He performs with it in his village during festivals. He dreams of living in a big city one day and having so much money that he wouldn’t know what to do with it. Essiengbot, Cameroon, 2009
Francoise Todou, aged 11, she has got 2 brothers and 2 sisters. After school she brings water from the well and wood from the bush. She also prepares food. In the future she is going to be a teacher. Her father bought the cloth for the blouse and he sewed it himself. She does not have any other blouses, she wears it only on Sundays when she goes to church. Mandama, Cameroon, 2009
Alice Barabonerana, aged 14. She is an orphan, her father was killed during the war, he mother died during an operation. She lives in a house together with 4 siblings. Their family do not help them. After school she goes to the forest to bring brushwood (needed for cooking) and she does her homework. She gets the rice from the Sisters (food distribution program that covers particular families), it is the most valuable for her, because she can eat bellyful of it. She wants to be a nun to help other poor people. She dreams about her parents who help her. Rutshuru, DR Congo, 2010
Joseline Nohimirimana, aged 12, a 3rd grade student of primary school. She lives with her parents and 4 siblings. After school she sweeps the floor, helps with washing and washes up after meals. She plays when she has enough time. She got the lamp from her father, it is shaped like flowers. She likes when it is on, because it gives nice colours. When she grows up, she wants to be a doctor. Bujumbura, Burundi, 2010
Makoro Tuyishime, aged 8, a 2nd grade student of primary school. She lives with her mother and sister. In the evenings they move to their neighbours to spend the night safely. After school she grows beans and corn in a rented field. She bought the hoe on the market for $2, it allows her to cultivate the land and have food. She wants to become a nun or a teacher. Her dream is to have a new house and her own field. Ntamugenga, DR Congo, 2010
Saf Diani Vitrel, 6 years old, he has 3 sisters and 2 brothers. After school he washes the dishes. He is going to be a teacher. He drinks water and malaria medication from his orange mug. Ouama, Cameroon, 2009
Eric Irakoze, aged 14, a 6th grade student of primary school. His father died, he lives with his mother and 2 brothers. After school he fetches water and helps at home. He bought the dog (it is a rarity in Rwanda) for 500 francs (approx. $1). It is the most important, because it keeps an eye on his house. When he grows up, he wants to become a bishop. His dream is to have clothes for school and shoes. Karama, Rwanda, 2010
Bona Ventura Banda, aged 10, orphan, he does not have any brothers or sisters, he lives with his grandmother or his uncle alternatively. After school, he washes the dishes and helps his grandmother. When he grows up, he is going to be a policeman. He got the set of pots from his mother before she died. He dreams of having a bicycle. Betare-Oya, Cameroon, 2009
Gedeo Nigarimana, aged 11, a 4th grade student of primary school. He lives only with his mother, his father was killed during the war, their house wad damaged in revenge. For some time they lived with their mother’s brother, but recently they have built a new house thanks to additional help of Polish adoptive parents ($400). After school he fetches water, helps with cooking, puts wood in the fire. He also looks after 3 goats that belong to his neighbours. In return, they have manure which they use in the field. When he has enough time, he plays with the ball he made himself from old bags tied with a string. He likes the ball, because he and his friends have something to play with. He wants to become a priest. Buraniro, Burundi, 2010
Marie Rosine Mukundente, aged 7, a 2nd grade student of primary school. She lives with her parents and 10 siblings (2 adopted ones). She fetches water 4 times a day (a 5-litre container), she looks after younger brothers and sisters as well as the neighbours’ children. She got the doll as a present. She often carries it on her back copying other adult women with children. The doll is white, that is why she likes it so much. When she grows up, she wants to be a nun or a doctor. Nyakinama, Rwanda, 2010
