Romania in ochii altora.

Pentru mine a fost socanta aceasta galerie.
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Liviu and George. Two homeless kids in Brasov, Romania.

All my previous descriptions were about diseases, poverty and hunger. Hardly a surprise - one cannot ignore it. Misery is an integral part of their lives. But there is also brotherhood, comradery and hope.

For a better life. For a better world.

Artist's Comments
Nicoleta. She grew up in the orphanages at the time when Ceasescu was in power. The conditions in the orphanages were horrible, she testifies: the only time the kids weren't neglected was when they were being sexually abused. All the kids ended up on the streets after they turned 18 and were released from the orphanages.

James Nachtwey made a very well-known documentary about it. [link]

Powerful photographs. Photographs that actually triggered a change. The orphanages are excellent now, materially. Bordering on luxurious. But the attitude hasn't changed yet. The mentality is still the same... The opposite way of life in the orphanages has the same results: when the kids are released they are too used to the relative wealth in the safehouses. They don't know how to take care of themselves. So they still end up on the streets.

Some things are hard to change.

Artist's Comments
One of the streetkids, Victor, doing glue. Aurolac. It destroys their stomach and lungs.

Artist's Comments
Liviu and Tenake, two homeless kids who live in the sewers of Brasov, Romania. During the day they come to the railway station to beg, to steal, to fight and to prostitute themselves. Sometimes they are calm and nice, sometimes they are aggressive and out of control. Most of the kids are ill in some way. Skin diseases from the horrible hygienic condition in the sewers, where they sleep amidst garbage and faeces. Missing fingers or a foot that froze off in winter. Genital diseases from prostitution and rape. Internal diseases from the lack of food and Aurolac, the glue they are high on all day long.

When I took this picture they were hanging around in small groups at the railway station. Looking to grab a purse, waiting for the next paedophile. Begging for food and trying to pass time, hopefully getting through another day. The taller boy on the right, Tenake, had just stolen some cigarettes from a tourist. He had attacked me earlier that day, trying to steal my camera, but right now he was enjoying his small victory. Liviu, the other boy, was so high on Aurolac I don't think he knew what he was doing.

Artist's Comments
I just came back from Romania. Tough experience at times. I photographed some things I wish I had not even seen. But I know why I did it. I will not be posting any other pics the coming week(s), first I want to finish the whole series, and write text to accompagny the photographs.


The kid on the left is mentally handicapped, the boy on the right has a skin disease. They have no homes. And there were many, many more kids like these. They live under bridges, in the sewers, at the railway station. During the day they are mostly high on glue, and they beg, prostitute themselves or steal. During the night they rape the girls in their group of homeless kids, fight with other groups, and try to rest amidst garbage and faeces in the sewers.

I wanted to take them to a hospital and pay for them to get proper treatment. Maybe I could have paid for two, or three, or even four or five of them. But I didn't. Instead I talked to them, laughed with them, cared about them... and photographed them. I know that once this documentary is finished and shown to the public, more money will be raised, and these kids might get proper care; not just once and not just two or three of them, but who knows, the whole group?

At the moment itself it is hard to press that shutter... Very hard.

Images and comments : http://elus1v.deviantart.com/
(by ZuZa)