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Josephine, 14 years old
Josephine, 14 years old

Josephine lives at St. Bartholomew's Orphanage. Her parents were HIV positive and died when she was young. When she was a child, she fell ill to polio. Josephine is a joy to the children and the women who work at the orphanage. She enjoys cooking and helping with the chores.

Josephine loved taking pictures with her camera. This is what she sees.

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Kiden, 16 years old
Kiden, 16 years old

When Kiden was fourteen, her father threw her out of his house because she was pregnant. She came to St. Bartholomew’s orphanage where she gave birth to her baby girl, Viola. At just two years old, Viola died due to hydrocephalus. Kiden is remarkably resilient and more mature than most of her peers. She takes care of the younger children in the orphanage as if they are her own. Kiden is a hard worker and helps serve in the kitchen.

Kiden's favorite activity is singing. This is what she sees.

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Kabang, 14 years old
Kabang, 14 years old

Kabang lives at St. Bartholomew’s with her two older brothers and two sisters. Her father died after a long illness in Uganda. Initially, her mother worked hard to provide for them, but became very weak and had no choice but to leave them at the orphanage. Kabang's favorite hobby is netball, and her favorite chores are harvesting the crops in the orphanage and hand washing the clothes. She laughs often and usually has a smile on her face.

Kabang wants to be a doctor when she grows up. This is what she sees.

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Buba, 14 years old
Buba, 14 years old

Buba came to St. Bartholomew’s Orphanage with her brother and sister. Her father died during the civil war in Sudan, and her mother abandoned them so that she could remarry another man. Buba and her siblings lived with their grandmother until she admitted them to the orphanage because she was no longer able to provide for them. Buba loves to sing and play games. She also loves to help cook and clean.

Buba dreams of being a teacher one day. This is what she sees.

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Jackson, 15 years old
Jackson, 15 years old

Jackson lives at St. Bartholomew’s orphanage. His parents died when he was young, and he lived with his grandmother until her death in 2007. Jackson suffers from a curvature in his spine, which forces him to walk using both his hands and feet. His condition is most likely caused by polio, although he has never been diagnosed. Jackson enjoys cutting grass around the compound, and his favorite hobby is praying. 

Jackson wants to be a pilot when he grows up. This is what he sees.

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Josephine, 14 years old 2 sudan03-josephine02.jpg 3 sudan03-josephine03.jpg 4 sudan03-josephine04.jpg 5 sudan03-josephine05.jpg 6 sudan03-josephine06.jpg Kiden, 16 years old 8 sudan-03kidenreplace1.jpg 9 sudan-04-kiden363.jpg 10 sudan-05kiden.jpg 11 sudan-06kiden.jpg 12 sudan-07-kiden.jpg Kabang, 14 years old 14 sudan04-kabang02.jpg 15 sudan04-kabang03.jpg 16 sudan04-kabang04.jpg 17 sudan04-kabang5.jpg 18 sudan04-kabang06.jpg Buba, 14 years old 20 sudan02-buba02.jpg 21 sudan02-buba03.jpg 22 sudan02-buba04.jpg 23 sudan02-buba05.jpg 24 sudan02-buba06.jpg Jackson, 15 years old 26 sudan01-jackson02.jpg 27 sudan01-jackson03.jpg 28 sudan01-jackson04.jpg 29 sudan01-jackson05.jpg 30 sudan01-jackson06.jpg

100cameras

July 2, 2015

100cameras is an NGO that empowers marginalized children around the world to document their lives through photography, and thereby create positive change in their communities. 100% of the photography sales go back to the children’s communities. Here’s how it works: 100cameras gives a camera to Jackson in South Sudan. Jackson snaps a photo. Then you buy his photo on the 100cameras website. 100% goes back to Jackson and Jackson is empowered.

In 2008, 100cameras launched its first project at St. Bartholomew’s Orphanage in Kajo Keji, South Sudan that serves as a home to 80 children who lost their families during the brutal 21-year civil war. The orphanage was founded by IWASSRU (International Widows Association for Southern Sudanese Refugees in Uganda), a group of Sudanese war widows that banded together to care for refugee orphans. 100cameras funds lifeline supplies, such as protection and access to food, water, and medicine.

To date, the sale of the children’s photography has raised $17,000 that was used to build a fence around the campus, protecting them from the rebel forces in Sudan, and has provided critical maintenance for the truck that transports all food and medicine for the children. $17,000 is four times the average annual income in Sudan!

You can purchase a child's photograph on the 100cameras website and 100% of your purchase will go directly to IWASSRU to provide lifeline supplies and shelter.

This photo essay is a small selection of the more than 200 photographs of South Sudan taken by South Sudanese kids, as well as projects in other countries around the world.

Connect with 100cameras and purchase images of their kid photographers here. Check out their crowdfunding campaign going on now here at WEDIDIT.

In South Sudan, News and Social Action, Photo Essay, Education and Empowerment, Empowerment Tags Africa, Social Entrepreneurship, South Sudan, Photo Essay
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