November 18, 2019

This One’s For The Dreamers Out There…

A King. Tabaan, 13, from Afghanistan. "The first thing I would do as king, is provide security to the people. That’s the most important thing in Afghanistan, I think. The second thing I would do as a king is to fight unemployment. That is a bad thing & a big problem. © Chris de Bode

Undecided. Blaise Bedzermitki Leveltson (12) from Haiti was deeply traumatized by the 2010 earthquake but still has many dreams. He'd like to become a driver or mechanic but also admires Michael Jackson. "Well, I dream about so many things. If I really had to choose I’d struggle. If I'm being sensible I should be a driver, but I also dream about being like Michael Jackson." © Chris de Bode

Flying. Dilan Kaya is a 21 year old young woman living in Istanbul. She is studying urban and regional planning at Istanbul Technical University. Dilan Kaya dreams of flying. She has since she was a kid. In the photo, she is on the little island called Maiden’s Tower. She tries to fly from there while she admires the birds flying above her. © Chris de Bode

Of being a boy. Rens Zomerdijk (14) was born as Renske, a girl. “I was born in the wrong body. I have always felt like a boy. I dream of actually being one. I take masculine hormones. Next year I will have a breast removal surgery. I can’t wait! “Rens lives in a strict Christian community. It was very difficult to expose himself as a transgender. © Chris de Bode

Farmer. Antonio (11) from Mozambique. His parents have to work hard to get food on the table & healthy & nutritious food is hard to get and Antonio became chronically malnourished. "I want to be a farmer. Not a rice farmer like my dad. I want cows and calves. Cows give milk and that’s what I like best!" © Chris de Bode

Heart Surgeon. Batool (14) from Jordan. “I watch a TV series about a hospital every week. One of the main characters is the heart surgeon. He can always heal his patients. I dream of being him, because my aunt has a heart problem. If I would be the actor, I could make sure she is healthy again. The heart is everything. It provides life and love.” © Chris de Bode

Veterinarian. Djarida (8) from Mexico. She is from a disadvantaged Mayan background. Her father left the family home & her mother works as a housekeeper. 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. When I grow up I want to be a veterinarian. I have to study hard but I'm sure I will succeed." © Chris de Bode

Bird. Elsa, (7) lives with her parents & 5 siblings in the Mozambican countryside. She doesn't go to school. She dreams of being a bird. "I’d love to be a red bird. Red is my favorite color. I would fly as high as I can to my grandmother who lives around the corner. But I would still be a lot faster. I could also fly to the city to visit my aunt & to my older sister who lives in a different town.” © Chris de Bode

Walking bare feet on green grass. Emam, (10), fled from Syria & now lives in the Zataari refugee camp in Jordan. She dreams of walking bare feet on green grass & playing like she used to do. “Color & grass is what I miss most. The only place here were I feel at ease is the playground. I want to go back home. To the vineyard and the meadows…” © Chris de Bode

Living in a peaceful home. Eurgenia de Winter (13) says “I dream of living in a peaceful home with a father & a mother. That is normal for most children, but I’ve never had that experience.” Her parents couldn’t provide her a safe upbringing, so she was placed in foster care. © Chris de Bode

To be the fastest runner. 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 to be proud of me. Every day I run. I dream of coming home with the biggest trophy” © Chris de Bode

What do you dream about? One of life’s biggest commonalities – whether you live in Afghanistan or Africa, Haiti or Honduras – is that you dream. You have some vision of the future that is other than your present circumstance. If you’re a kid they can be little things – like sitting through school and... Read More