Chris de Bode (Amsterdam) won an Alfred Fried Photography Award 2016 for his series ‘I Had a Dream’ on the aspirations of children selected from around the world. See Blogroll for a link.

· by · in journalism. ·

Chris de Bode’s site is:  http://www.chrisdebode.com/stories

Amman, Jordan. Adham fled from Syria and now lives in Amman. He comes from a middle class family and dreamt of becoming a pilot. Looking at the position of his family that could have been realistic. He and his family lost all they once had. He changed from a happy kid into a depressed and sometime agressive teen, his mother says. Adham:" Everything changed, I lost everything. My house, my friends and my future. I dreamt of becoming a pilot but that is taken away from me. I can't go to school and without any degree I will be lost."

New Delhi, India. Aniket dreams of flying into space. 10 year old Aniket lives with his family in public housing provided by the city of Delhi where many slum dwellers have been rehoused. Aniket is a bright boy who likes to watch Discovery Channel to learn things. "I saw a programme on TV about space. Since I saw this programme about astronauts I dream of only one thing: to go to the moon! It looks so beautiful to look down at the earth from space. I wonder whether I would be able to see India - it's quite big, isn't it?"

Port au Prince, Haiti. Blaise pretends to drive an old, broken car. Blaise Bedzermitki Leveltson is 12 years old. He has seven brothers and one sister. His father is a soldier. He was deeply traumatised by the 2010 earthquake but he is an active and happy boy. Blaise has many dreams. He'd like to become a driver or a mechanic but he also admires Michael Jackson and Ronaldo. "Well, I dream about so many things. If I really had to choose I would struggle. If I'm being sensible I should be a driver, but I also dream about being like Michael Jackson. It's really hard to choose."

chris-de-bode-4-i_have_a_dream_chris_de_bode_5_20160704_1382709274

Istanbul, Turkye. Dilan Kaya is 21 years old young woman lives in Istanbul. She is studying urban and regional planning at Istanbul Technical University. She has been volunteering at Habitat for 3 years. She began working as a volunteer at Diyarbakır Youth Council when she was in Diyarbakır. She is originally from Diyarbakır. Dilan Kaya is dreaming of flying. She has been very active and taken part in various projects. However, she said that since she was a kid she wanted to fly. In th photo, she is on the little island called meadien’s tower. She tries to fly from there while she admires of birds flying above her. These birds are the symbol of bosphores and they company the ships going around the Bospores.

Djarida, dressed up as a veterinarian, holds a chicken and pretends to inject it with a syringe. Djarida is 8 years old and lives in San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. She is from a Mayan family background. Mayans are one of the indigenous peoples of Mexico, many of whom today are poor and disadvantaged. Djarida's father left the family home and her mother works as a housekeeper in the city. Djarida loves all animals, especially dogs. "Many girls are not allowed to go to school or only for a short time. Then they are required to help at home, to get married or to work. I'm happy going to school every day. When I grow up I want to be a veterinarian. I have to study hard but I'm sure I will succeed."

Amman, Jordan. Hiba (17) lives close to the Save the Children Center in Amman. She had to leave school 6 years ago, when her parents separated.After her parents reunited, they seemed to forget that Hiba had to return to school. Each morning, when her sisters went to school and Hiba stayed behind at home, crying.According to her mother, her place in life is in the kitchen. Hiba:“I dream of being a supermodel. I want everybody to recognize me as the gorgeous model with beautiful clothes. I want to be seen in the spotlight instead of being hidden in the shade.” Hiba arrives with her best friend Doa (17). She hasn't been to school for 6 years.After the separation of her parents, she stayed home with her mother.When her parents reunited after 6 months, her sisters returned to school. Hiba had to stay at home and take care of the house. Hiba says:“It seems they totally forgot that I was there.That I also had the right to go to school. Every day I would secretly cry when my sisters left for school. I tried to stay strong in front of my parents, but I felt so left out. I asked my parents several times to let me go to school as well.They refused.According to my mother, my place in life would be the kitchen. She said I was dumb and it would be a waste to try to educate me.” When Hiba decides to battle her parents and go to the SCC, her parents didn't care. Hiba:“they really don't care what I do. My mother takes pride in my sisters, but ignores me”. She wants to finish high school and go to law school. My teachers say I have a bright future, so I want to become a lawyer. I want to stand up for women's rights. In my heart I dream of being a supermodel, but I know that will never happen. So I keep my dream and I'll become a lawyer in real life. Her friend Doa has a similar story. She came from West Bank ten years ago with her mother after a family dispute. She has no siblings and her mother tried her best to earn a living for her daughter and herself. She worked

New Delhi, India. Kalyani has painted a plane onto a wall on the roof of her house. Kalyani is 13 years. She lives with her parents and two brothers in one of the slums in Delhi. She likes going to school and has big dreams. She believes that she will be married but she won't stay in the slum like her mother, caring for the children. "In the evening, when I see a plane flying overhead, I dream of being on board. I want to see the world, but I especially want to get out of the slum. As a flight attendant I will travel and literally fly away from my current life."

Korah Beau Atom sits in a doctor's office, pretending to have a conversation on the phone. . Korah Beau Atom is 10 years old and lives with her sister and mother in Haiti. Her parents are divorced. Korah sees a lot of people who sustained injuries during the 2010 earthquake. The earthquake and its effects have made a deep impression on her. Korah is in fifth grade and she finds going to school very important. She knows that school will give her a good chance for the future. "I dream of becoming a director of an hospital. I will be able to help as many people as possible and make them better. In my hospital, anyone will be able to come to be treated, even if they haven't got any money."

Port au Prince, Haiti. My-Taelle does a clown routine in front of a group of children. My-Taelle is 10 years old. She lives with her mother, two brothers and four sisters. Her father left the family home. My-Taelle in in fifth grade. Like many other children in Haiti she wasn't able to go to school following the 2010 earthquake. She was happy to be back at school when a temporary classroom was set up because this seemed like normality was returning to her life. "I dream of becoming a clown. I'll be able to make other children happy. Many people were sad after the earthquake because they lost family members or their houses. I'm glad that I can make people laugh."

New Delhi, India. Sabina stands on the roof of one of the shacks in the slum where she lives holding up a brightly coloured scarf. Sabina is 9 years old and lives with her parents and brother in a slum in Delhi. Her father is a rickshaw driver and the family has very little money. The slum where they live is dirty and smelly since there are thousands of people living in a very confined space. "I am always wearing the second hand clothes of my nieces. Everything is dirty and dingy. I dream of beautiful dresses which would make me look like a movie star and I would be able to shine and dance through the slum. Everyone would think that I'm the most beautiful girl in Delhi."

Sahid plays on computers in a computer repair shop. Sahid is 7 old and lives with his parents and sister in a slum in New Delhi. On the main street of the slum there is a shop where PCs are repaired and Sahid likes to come here. Sahid dreams of having his own computer and being able to spend the whole day on it. He wants to become a computer wizard.

Osh, Kyrgystan. Samagan (13 jaar) woont op het onherbergzame platteland van Kirgizië. ’s Winters is het hier ijskoud en is alles bedekt met een dikke laag sneeuw. Voor het boerengezin is deze periode van het jaar zwaar. Er is amper voldoende voedsel en de vrieskou is niet buiten te houden met slechts een houtkacheltje in huis. De uitbundige Samagan kan het niet deren: hij is dol op spelen in de sneeuw met zijn vriendjes. Samagan: “Ik droom ervan om een goede trompettist te worden. Ik ben er heel trots op dat ik Kirgiziër ben, dus ik zou dan graag het volkslied willen spelen.”

Monrovia, Liberia. Varney Parkir is 14 years old. Here he stands at the front of a boat. Parkir was born in Liberia and his mother died when he was a baby. His father couldn't provide for the family and his village doesn't have a school so he went to Monrovia, the capital, to go and live with his uncle. His father, stepmother and sister stayed behind in their village. Varney never goes to visit them. The people in the village were jealous of him so he doesn't feel welcome back home anymore. "I dream of becoming a captain of a big ship. With the ship I want to travel to Robertsport in Grand Cape Mount County. That's where I was born."

Gulu, Uganda. Wilberforse, 11 yrs, lives in Northern Uganda together with his parents and 6 brothers and sisters. “I want to be the fastest. I want my parents, my school and country are proud of me. Every day I run. I dream of coming home with the biggest trophy”

Zataari Camp, Jordan Emam, 10 yrs old, fled from Syria and now lives in a refugee camp in Jordan. She dreams of walking bear feet on green grass and play like she used to do. In the camp all is grey. No grass to be found. Emam:" color and grass is what I miss most. The only place here were I feel at easy is the playground. I want to go back home. To the vineyard and the meadows. Run around with my friends.

Aniket sitting in a tree. 10 year old Aniket lives with his parents and sister in a slum in New Delhi. He wants to become an architect. Behind the house where he lives a large multi-story building is being built. Aniket would like to live there one day.

Leave a comment