Interrupted childhoods

Photo Cambodia, 2006 by Marie-Claire Holmes

For children in parts of Africa and Asia, having brightly-coloured balloons like those pictured or any other fun symbols of growing up is a distant dream. All too often children are made to work in the fields or in factories, or even worse, become soldiers in local militia groups. In Cambodia, a former child soldier helps find and disarm landmines he once planted. Read the story here.

Comments

[Rosa]

Oh I remember these types of baloons as a child being sold at The National Zoo in DC and on ocassion on the Capitol grounds. My dad used to always get us the huge long "marbelized" ones that I just adored! What memories that pic evoked!

[cathy]

I know in Haiti where I grew up, kids are sold all the time to wealthy elite families. They call them restavecs and they are not paid to work, but are treated as slaves, only given a plate of food to eat and some clothing and that's it. Great post

[Tammy]

Very sad and moving story!

[Lotus]

Thanks so much for pointing us to this very moving story. Living in this part of the world (North America), I feel very shielded from some of the everyday realities people, especially children, face in other parts of the world.

[tinker]

What a poignant reminder...Landmines that continue to maim & kill, years after the battles have faded; childhood's innocence lost - war doesn't affect just the generation that saw fit to fight in it.
Thank you for reminding me (again) to count my blessings.

[josephine]

One wonders at the unfair dispersion of wealth and despair. What would it take to make it right?

[Jeanne]

I came across your link on Corey's fabulous blog.
I wanted to say I enjoy your postings very much!
Blessings.

[abhay]

hi Tara,
colors play a very important role in our lives. In India there is a very popular festival of colors called Holi. During this people play with all possible natural colors putting them on each others bodies...I wish evrybody had a fair share of colors in our lives!