Public Project
Romani Camp Children
Summary
The Romani are an ethnic group dispersed around the world who have been thought to have migrated from the Indian subcontinent around the 8th century, arriving in Europe in the 13th century. Often unjustly marginalised for their statelessness and nomadic lifestyle; modernity has had a push towards settlement in some groups.
Romani Camp Children
The Romani are an ethnic group dispersed around the world who have been thought to have migrated from the Indian subcontinent around the 8th century, arriving in Europe in the 13th century. Often unjustly marginalised for their statelessness and nomadic lifestyle; modernity has had a push towards settlement in some groups. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing such a settlement. Where a community still is negotiating their traditions and the demands of integration. Where state schools are seen as hostile places for their children to go. So during the day, when most of the adults are out of the camp to settle their day’s affairs, the children run free to entertain themselves. With just rough and tumble play, mixed with youthful imagination, the children of the Romani camp wait out to grow up. A window of innocent joy before they go through their rights of passage, marry, and become adults in a world that still misunderstands them.- GraffitiPress Lode Award 2011
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