Homeless World Photo Project - Global

In January and February, 2002, the young participants took part in a photography workshop before heading out on the streets with disposable cameras and rolls of film. The children took more than 15,000 photos. For example, one photographer captures his wanderings on the streets of Moscow as he begs along with his siblings and dog. Another, who lives in a shelter, captures his experience trying to learn to live with his mother again, after being separated for years because of a prison sentence she had to serve.

One hundred and fifty of these photos were selected for an exhibition, which opened in Jakarta in June, 2002. Thereafter, the exhibit will travel to the following cities: New York, Paramaribo, Rotterdam, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Paris, Cairo, Jakarta, New Delhi, Budapest, Moscow. In addition, a book called HOME/LIFE, 121 Kids from 11 Cities Photograph their World featuring these photographs, along with articles (written by volunteers) about the lives of the young photographers, was produced in March and April, 2002. The book may be purchased on the Homeless World site, which also includes the 150 selected photos, arranged by city. Sales of the book are used to finance social projects benefiting street children in participating cities.

Children, Youth, Homelessness.

The anthropologist/journalist and lawyer who initiated Homeless World Foundation, a non-profit NGO, point out that rapid urbanisation and the growing divide between rich and poor are causing a steady increase in the number of homeless young people in the world. They say that, even thought the lives of young homeless people are often the subject of photos, newspaper reports, and television documentaries, rarely can one see the experience of homelessness through the eyes of those who are actually living it.