The kids of Karura forest

The people who stay

Officials come
Officials go

They say they will make Africa better
They say they will create a positive change for capacity building

They hold functions
They hold speeches
They write reports
Which clearly showcase that they are making Africa better

The people listen
The people watch
The people stay

As they have nowhere to go
Except from misery to misery

Officials come
Officials go

They say they will make Africa better

There was a United Nations treeplanting function in Karura forest.
A convoy of 4×4 stopped, people in crisp corporate T-shirts and new gumboots got out. The hold speeches about the good thing they were going to do.
The villagers living in the forest came out too.
They listened.
We all planted trees.
A good thing.
Also several TV- and newspaper journalists were there. It’s good that the world knows about the good things that are done.

Soon the function was over. The people in their crisp corporate T-shirts and new gumboots got in to the convoy of 4×4’s and left. They had done a good thing. Tonight it would be on TV and tomorrow in the newspapers.

Others stayed.

I decided to hook up with a group of kids and photograph the whole happening out of their perspective. They captivated me, as none of them smiled.  It’s a tough life in Karura forest and as a kid, your youth is over soon.
Too soon.

Shot at Karura forest, Kenya

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