UNICEF Child Photographers Document Children's Rights In Niger (VIDEO)

In Niger, a group of children assumed roles as advocacy journalists last week, taking to the streets armed with digital cameras and the objective of telling a critical narrative.

Twenty Nigerien youth, eight to 16 years old, attended a UNICEF workshop led by photographer Giacomo Pirozzi, who provided them with the skills to create photo essays depicting "children's vulnerabilities."

The young photojournalists focused on the developing country's street kids, as about 43 percent of Nigerien children work as beggars, street vendors or domestic servants, UNICEF reports.

Many of the young workshop participants come from families who live on less than $1.25 a day and have never touched a camera. Rachida Aboukar, 16, told UNICEF the experience was eye-opening in more ways than one.

"I was not expecting to see what I saw today. I was very saddened by the sight of these children sleeping in the streets, and I think it is not fair that a child should sleep on the streets when they have parents."

The young photojournalists told the story of malnutrition, hygiene issues and young marriage. About 61 percent of girls 15-19 years old are married to older men with 26 percent engaging in sexual intercourse by 15, according to UNICEF.

Romaric Onadja, 17, says the experience put things into perspective for him:

"I used to complain about my life, but when I became acquainted with some of the living conditions of children on the streets of Niamey, I feel very rich. You find six to eight people living in the same mud house. That is what really affected me the most."

The photos were put on exhibit as part of last week's Day of the African Child 2011.

WATCH:

Support UNICEF programs for Niger's children through the Impact links below.

Comments

[TopSgt]

04:38 AM on 06/23/2011

I feel more for the Starving, Homeless and Unemployed in America first? Doesn't Charity begin at Home?

[oakandbay]

05:21 AM on 06/23/2011

While I can sympathize with those suffering in other parts of the world, I am also an American who sees the suffering in our own country and am more inclined to do for my own people first.

[sylvabugg2]

03:48 AM on 06/23/2011

Sorry but I have a hard time finding sympathy for Niger when we have hungry kids and homeless people right here. We can no longer afford to feed the world, we can't even feed our own people. Suffering is part and parcel of being a human being. Can't save them all. We need to concentrate on our own people and help them.

[lp4ju]

04:24 AM on 06/23/2011

boooo

[TopSgt]

04:39 AM on 06/23/2011

And, what Foreign Country do You come from?

[Cassandra L Chapa]

09:35 AM on 06/23/2011

I don't know if I can say we truely have any homeless and 'starving' people in America. We have shelters and food kitchens open to anyone all over this country while other countries do not. Most 'homeless' in America choose to be that way.

[TopSgt]

03:47 AM on 06/23/2011

It's time that We find out where the Millions that the World's biggest Welfare Agency, aka the US, are going, besides into the Despots pockets? We have Homeless, Jobless, here in America? There's NO excuse! It seems to Me, that those Millions are going somewhere else. Another Reason that the UN needs to be disbanded?

[cmcaledonia]

02:53 AM on 06/23/2011

What the heck is going on here, these kids look better fed and dressed than alot of the kids in are public school system in Milwaukee and Racine, Wisconsin."

[errorsandlag]

03:35 AM on 06/23/2011

That's right. What about the American kids who live like this? No one seems to care.

[TopSgt]

03:48 AM on 06/23/2011

Hear, hear!

[tpon9]

01:20 AM on 06/23/2011

Everything's ok - i.e. M. Obama - Just Read "The Cat In The Hat'
OMG -OMohamd-OBuda-O sheet!

[entwife74]

01:11 AM on 06/23/2011

Ok, does anyone read the actual story? NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE U.S. SENDING AID. This is a story about the struggle of another country. Then posters started complaining that there shouldn't be reports about other countries that the reports should be about the starving kids in America. My point is that, yes, there are starving kids here but they are no more news worthy than starving kids anywhere. It al should be headline news everyday. I am appaled that we are so self absorbed that even a news story offends people. Are we that selfish that the news has to only be about Americans? Because that is what most posters are saying-"I don't want to hear about it because we have our own problems and they are just lazy and ignorant anyways" is the general theme of the posts. It makes me sick. This is what makes us a joke to the rest of the world. We can even read story about some place else without getting all upset because it isn't about us!! No one asked any of you to give money but you aren't even willing to give sympathy.

[Lilybelle]

01:22 AM on 06/23/2011

you are so right - and it was about the point of view of kids telling the story of other kids in dire straits. If they bothered to look at the article,this is not a Sally Struthers infomercial crying for funds. It is a point of view from another side of the world that everyone should be aware of.

After reading these responses tonight, I hope this is not the true representation of the American public, because it is disgusting. It makes me ashamed for them for being so selfish and small minded.

[lamk]

02:03 AM on 06/23/2011

Good question entwife. Either a great many people don't read or they have very limited comprehension on what they see. If as many people getting their jollies being know-it-alls when in fact they don't seem to know what has been written would instead spend half that effort into improving the world how amazing it could be.

[Tyler Muller]

01:04 AM on 06/23/2011

I had to sit through yet another Bravo! ad in order to watch less than half of the video before I shut it off because a quarter of the screen was obstructed by another ad which I was unable to close. Sorry UNICEF, I will not make a donation to something that your ads will not let me see.

[TopSgt]

03:59 AM on 06/23/2011

And, check out where the Monies that We send UNICEF and all of the other Charities are going? Mostly the CEO's, Who have outrageous Salaries, Furnished Limo's Discrtionary Funds, et al. The ONLY Charity worth giving to is the Salvation Army? The CEO is Blind, has Minimal Salary, yet Provides more help than any other of these rip off Charities? The United Way is also another rip off. In most of these cases, about 94% of each Dollar, goes for the Salaries and Perks of these CEO's? And very little to the Poor and Hungry? Check it out.....

[floristang]

12:54 AM on 06/23/2011

Im sorry and its sad

but unfortunetly there are starving children in america to they just dnt have a camera .

what has this world become

[hmadden]

12:49 AM on 06/23/2011

It is sad. But the last time we got media blitzed about poor starving children and were pushed to "do something" we ended up in Somalia with "Blackhawk Down". More recently it was the plight of the civilians in Libya. Anybody see a pattern here?

[TopSgt]

04:01 AM on 06/23/2011

See My above explanation....

[Lilybelle]

12:40 AM on 06/23/2011

Apparantly most people whining here did not bother to read the article. There was no plea for your money - either your personal funds or US funds for that matter.

Too many of these people stand in their church on Sunday and call themselves Christian. For all the good it does them, they may as well stand in their garage and call themselves a car.

[entwife74]

01:21 AM on 06/23/2011

Well said, love the last line lol! Too bad people will never listen. I get so mad but it is all in vain. You can't fix the ignorance and self absorbed nature of this country. It seems to be an epidemic lately. (now I have gone and overheated my computer so it is freezing up-must mean that it is time to stop banging my head aginst the wall and go to bed)

[Lilybelle]

01:24 AM on 06/23/2011

Im fanning you - youre a good person.

[TopSgt]

04:02 AM on 06/23/2011

The Plea is Subliminal, as to cause a Guilty Conscience?

[guendy]

12:50 AM on 06/23/2011

Since we're all human beings perhaps we should all take care of one another.

[Lilybelle]

01:03 AM on 06/23/2011

that seems to be beyond the powers of comprehension for most here tonight. Sad.

[nicky44]

03:31 AM on 06/23/2011

Guendy, Its time for America to take care of America !!!! lets stop being good uncle to the whole world !! while the whole world is laughing at us .
Soon people in our country will be starving ,do you think other countries will help?? think again!

[TopSgt]

04:04 AM on 06/23/2011

Of course. Just like the Lazies that have lived on Welfare for Generations here in the US.

[goodloeo]

12:30 AM on 06/23/2011

What angers me is that Oprah, and the rest of those stars that made their money on the backs of ordinary American citizens won't turn their attention to homeless children right here in America....Children with no parents alive, and no relatives to go to.......Totally dependent on the state.....You would spend $500,000 on a car, but you won't do it for no child here in America.....It's ridiculous !!!!!!!

[Victoria Cianci Cipullo]

03:14 AM on 06/23/2011

I agree, I am not saying don't help children in other countries, I am saying what about the children here? Never seen an ad or picture about the children in our beautiful country...USA...Thank you

[TopSgt]

04:06 AM on 06/23/2011

Oprah just feels that Her Millions are Reparation because Her Forefathers were Slaves, and America owes Her? She's got Hers, and Damn if She's going to share?

[tpon9]

12:21 AM on 06/27/2011

Got that rite - who made her rich - Americans! Let's talk about who's racist/unbiased/who's not$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!

[casjane1]

12:26 AM on 06/23/2011

I have always known that some church organizations send money and aid to other countries and they send missionaries there also. As far as I'm concerned they can keep this up if it makes them happy to do a Christian charity thing. That's their business if their people want to donate their money to that. But I don't think our govt. should be doing this. This is large scale donations from all the American people that weren't asked whether they wanted to take part in the donating. We are not given a choice.I think it should be up to us whether we want our tax dollars to be used like that.

[blueheronwv]

12:53 AM on 06/23/2011

The only reason missionaries are sent is to "convert" those people. You know.....they're starving in the streets and the missionaries tell them not to practice birth control and of course, God forbid, seek an abortion. Just keep em coming.....just keep letting them starve to death.

[Lilybelle]

12:58 AM on 06/23/2011

sounds like the republican party.

[TopSgt]

04:09 AM on 06/23/2011

Another Reason to get rid of all of the worthless Congress, Change the Constitutionback to the way it was when Our Founding Fathers stated that Congress Members only serve ONE Term, then go back to working for a Living in the Real World?

[Dan Crabtree]

12:16 AM on 06/23/2011

Perhaps some form of birth control might help..as this seems to be an endless cycle.

[TopSgt]

04:13 AM on 06/23/2011

I hear Ya! Why would You have more Children than than You can Afford? Condoms and Birth Control Pills would do so much? But then again, the People have to have enough Intelligence to use them?

[tpon9]

12:24 AM on 06/27/2011

Male chauvinistic pigs rule in most countries - especially those. Put on your burka and bend over.

[Cassandra L Chapa]

09:43 AM on 06/23/2011

They can't afford food...you think they can afford birth control?

[casjane1]

11:50 PM on 06/22/2011

We have been helping these primitive countries for as long as I can remember and it seems they haven't gotten one bit better for it. They still haven't learned how to take care of themselves.As long as we keep helping them they won't try. When is it going to stop? We have homeless families with children in this country. I don't see how we can ignore the homeless that are in plain sight of the white house and talk about the plight of the people elsewhere. Our govt. needs to get the soap out of their eyes and take a good look at things here. Start worrying about our own.

[tpon9]

10:29 PM on 06/26/2011

I cannot believe my taxes go to other countries - just now on CBS - all children raised their hands: yes, homeless/hungry growling stomachs/embarrassed/utilities off/
parents jobless, etc. etc. So sorry about the rest of the world? Why? This is the free, richest country? I think NOT. Wake up - someone has to get this under control - it sure isn't working as is - and happened recently. Hmmm.