wrudychbutach

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Congo (Kinshasa) | Friday, November 4, 2011 | 5 photos

When I visited Democratic Republic of Congo I decided to prepare stories about girls who were kidnapped and slaved by rebel soldiers. In the centre for children who were affected by conflict I found Vumi (name is changed), who is now 16 years old. When I saw her the first time, she appeared to be in deep depression - hunched body, sad eyes in darkness, damaged hair. She explained her experience with the sound of voice as she talked about the weather or school.
Her day in the centre means school and therapy with other children. For example they draw their past experience – the worst and the best. She is in the better situation than other children in the centre – every evening she comes back to the house of her host family. Being hosted means her own bed, good food, clothes and shoes.

After visiting her several times in the centre I realized that she became to change. I met her again on the International Women’s Day, in DRC most women are taking part in huge parade through the streets of the city. She was one of them – with changed haircut, earrings, big smile and was very active. For the first time she wanted to be heard and seen. It was one of the most impressive moment from DRC for me.

In my photography the most important is human. I’m especially interested in people who lives in extreme conditions (like destabilization and poverty in DRC, natural disaster in Bangladesh, exclusion anywhere). Because they have unique wisdom of life – and for me it’s worth to understand it.

Travels, showing through photography human story, and improving myself are the most important for me. This scholarship seems to combine these elements. That’s why I did my best to get it!