The Golden Years

Joy

Virtues of childhood

Smile till forever

Children are the future, now.

It’s stunning how we have neglected the future – put it in storage, not to be retrieved. This happens to be an unfortunate case in the town of Lalibela, Ethiopia.

Lalibela is one of the fortunate remote areas of Ethiopia. Blessed with the magnificent Rock-Hewn churches built in the 12th & 13th centuries, it’s a touristic pilgrim, and people from various walks of life roam through daily.

While this has enabled locals to see a glimpse of the world and financially flourish. It has come at a grave cost — moderation, and education. Once a center of biblical and philosophical teaching, it is currently teamed with ill-disciplined teenagers living off the quick cash they solicit from tourists.

Adolescents rebelling and making stupid decisions may not be a shock. However, the happenings here catch the eye, as the ‘responsible’ adults carry the same, parasitic mentality. Showing how a generation of “screw it’s” has/is being nurtured in a third-world country where even the diligent don’t make it.

These pictures were taken one afternoon in Lalibela Primary School’s playground, while children were in their Physical Exercise class. Harboring their innocence, and waiting to be shaped into responsible independent adults.