25 Powerful Children Portraits

• By Vitaly Friedman
• October 15th, 2008
• Photography
• 66 Comments

Today is the Blog Action Day. Today bloggers all across the globe are uniting and publishing posts related to poverty. We want to raise awareness, start a global discussion and add momentum to an important cause. Smashing Magazine strongly believes that together we can make a difference by informing people about the problem and donating money to charitable organizations.

We considered various options for this post: we could showcase designs or posters related to poverty, or we could scour the Web for poverty-related icons and wallpapers. But we decided to do something different. We decided to prove that each of us can help make poverty history.

For this purpose we collected beautiful portraits of children who lived in poverty but are now supported by charitable organizations. These photos were shot by photographers, photojournalists and organizations who have tried to improve the conditions of children in poor countries. The money these organizations raised gave these children hope, a future, something to rely on and something to believe in. There are millions of children out there who need your help. And you can help them by donating to the Global Fund and donating to Kiva.

Poverty: Let’s Make A Difference!

I’ll be there to protect you…
Street children from Brazil, the photo is taken by the Children At Risk Foundation CARF Brazil.

There are many who seek the stars
A street child from Brazil, the photo is taken by the Children At Risk Foundation CARF Brazil.

Being There
Child in poverty, san francisco, 6/26/07.

Blonde Poverty
“This gleaming young girl from the poorest of favelas (shanties) in our region, captured by my lens during our Beija-Flor na Comunidade (Hummingbird in the Community) programme there a few weeks ago, is a prime example of beautiful Brazilian diversity.”

Children
“Whilst our governing politicians fight to defend their heavily criticized wage increases of more than 90%, Christmas and every other day of the year is a plight for survival for families such as this one in Brazil, where each day is merely just another one in a long line of monotonous days and where expectations for positive social change are few and far between. ”

Jessica

Children
Photos are shot by Jake LeBoeuf.

I have dreams…
“This boy seemed a bit different from the others. He seemed to think and have some sort of individuality. He will have tough odds to face to keep them as he grows. Poverty, lack of good education, religious leaders drumming up paranoia and above all a world suspicious of him just because he is a Muslim.” This photo is taken by Sharad Gupta.

A boy

…and they call us the future?
“Whilst our governing politicians fight to defend their heavily criticized wage increases of more than 90%, Christmas and every other day of the year is a plight for survival for families such as this one in Brazil, where each day is merely just another one in a long line of monotonous days and where expectations for positive social change are few and far between. ”

Yes, that’s me!. A street child from Brazil, the photo is taken by the Children At Risk Foundation CARF Brazil.

Bianca. A street child from Brazil, the photo is taken by the Children At Risk Foundation CARF Brazil.

Elias
A street child from Brazil, the photo is taken by the Children At Risk Foundation CARF Brazil.

Through the eyes of terror…
“Tamira’s cousin, Emily, is one of many family members in this extremely large family group, who live secluded in the woods surrounding Sítio Joaninha. Their little, invaded small-holding is not what it used to be when grandpa was alive and managed to keep everything and everyone well-organized.”

Port area
“these kids, who lived in a tattered shanty at a squatters area in manila, had to wait anxiously for their mother as she tried to make a meager living washing clothes.” The photo is taken by Roger Alcantara.

For the sake of love?
“Almost one third of pregnant women in Brazil are pre-adolescent or adolescent (10-19 years old); more than 54% of Brazilian girls who had left school became pregnant at least once.”

Kigali
“Student returning home from school. Kigali, Rwanda. Afrika. June, 2005.”

Smile sis!

Sichuan, Khampa nomads
This girl was found between Litang and Xiangcheng in China.

Reach for a star

Patientko

Kolkata
“This is a child from New Light, an NGO located in Kolkata, India. The mission of New Light is to promote gender equality through education and life-skill training, thereby reduce harm caused by violence and abuse to women and young children.”

The Unbearable Burden of Poverty
“In the land of infinite need, it’s the children who suffer the most… Always the children… ” The photo is taken by Cameron MacMaster.

Last Click

An eye on the community…

Brazilians!!! Think about us…

How can you help?

Make a difference right now! Speak with the people you know and people you don’t know, promote the day, use some post ideas for your blog and donate to the Global Fund and Kiva. Thank you.