14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Kubarou landfill football match

The only link children of Kubarou have with their childhood is the rare Sunday football match they play on the pitch that is a part of the landfill. For these young boys, who start to learn about adulthood even before they are ten, football is the only joy they know. The power of the sun that can burn well over 40 degrees is nothing compared to the dangers they face, while working for pennies and breathing the smoke from burning garbage, that pollutes the air and water they drink. It’s Sunday today, so they don’t have to dig through toxic waste that gives them food on one side and kills their love ones on the other. Cancer, asthma, sinusitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, anaemia and kidney problems, brought by the trash from all over Bamako, are a part of their daily life. This dusty field brings them just enough happiness to get the through the day – day after day, week after week, year after year or at least until they get to sick to ever play again. 

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2014
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Bamako, Mali
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Copyright: © Matjaz Krivic