Each culture defines childhood differently.

For us in the west, childhood doesn’t usually entail work – maybe a paper route or lemonade stand – and real employment doesn’t start until high school.

Yet for many countries in the developing world, children begin working – often a consequence of social and economic factors – very young.

Helping in the fields, around the house, or like the below photo taken in an affluent area of Bangladesh, wandering the city’s dusty streets selling penny newspapers all to raise money to support themselves and/or their families.

We might not call it the perfect childhood, but hopefully when these children grow up, they will be able to let their children experience the carefree childhood so many (fortunate among us) take for granted.

 

A I sat on a bus in the Gulshan II neighborhood of Dhaka, a young newspaper vendor wearing 2 button down shirts waited for patrons to board. While child labor does not officially occur in Bangladesh, UNICEF estimates 7.4 million children toil every day in this impoverished country.
A young farmer with painted fingernails (a 1000 year old custom said to attract women) carries his harvest in the serpent-focused village of Ghuradia, where families often farm poisonous snakes for venom, which is sold for use in anti-venom serum.
Surrounded by lush rice fields, a pipe carrying water travels propped up by simple bamboo poles in the Bengla town of Ghuradia.
In Ghuradia, and throughout Bangladesh, children wear traditional moslem attire, such as the tupi, above.

One Response to “Being a kid in Bangladesh. Not always fun and games.”

  1. Leila

    Micah….. So enjoy your stunning informative photos. Feel like I am along side you. Many thankS

    Reply

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