Childhood Interrupted
To bring to light the extreme hardships of the estimated 100,000 children that live on and under the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Many children are victims of child trafficking and family abuse and were forced to escape to the street.
Three years ago I was photographing in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia and I met a young boy called Bruke who had runaway from a small village because of an alcoholic and physically abusive father and a step mother that did not want him. Bruke, when I found him was living with his friend Oromo in a small concrete hole that was 3 x 4 x 5 ft in size that was in the median of a very busy road. He was surviving, like so many of the street children there off left over plate scraps from restaurants. Through an outreach center that tries to help the estimated 100,000 plus street children that live in the Mercato market area of Addis I was also able to talk to many other children like Bruke who had escaped not just abusive families but were victims of child trafficking and prostitution. My dream assignment would be to return to Addis and make a detailed photo essay with audio interviews with the children that would bring to light the horrors of child trafficking and the extreme dangers that these young children face everyday on the streets. The ultimate dream would be to use part of the money to find Bruke and help him establish a life off the streets. If I cannot find him then I will donate part of the money to the Forum on Street Children, an NGO that helps rescue children from the hardships life on the streets of the Mercato area.
Please take a minute to vote for this and help me create awareness about these young children.
Deadline for voting is April 3rd. Thank you for taking the time.
116 Comments
excellent idea, i voted for you, please check out mine and return the vote, good luck!
After reading more of the street children of Ethiopia on the Unicef site, this story breaks my heart. There definitely needs to be so much more awareness of this out there. You have my vote for sure and I will send the link round to everyone I know. Good luck and well done on putting this out there!
Your dream is worthy and I am happy to vote for it. Good luck.
Interesting idea! I voted... Please return the favor and PIC my idea if you find it interesting! Thanks and good luck!
Hey Jason this sounds like a really positive project, I hope you get all the votes you need.
Judith
children are #1- great cause Jason
What a great idea! You've got my vote. Best of luck:)
I know this will be a very valuable project to focus attention on an almost unknown problem. It's a great idea and you have my vote.
best of luck!!!!!
Good luck. I hope it happens for you.
My vote is for you every time Florio! Good luck, Jen Hile
This is the story you were born to do... If only I could go back with you.
There are no coincidences - besides being such a cool guy - now I really know why you're in our lives.
Good luck man!!
I voted for you and hope you win. Your photographs are truly amazing and the cause is dear to my heart as I hope to adopt from Ethiopia.
I really hope you get the project!
Chris Woodrum voted for you knobby....
A wonderful vision. If you would, please vote for mine too. Maybe one of us may win!
Texas on your side brother....
Good Luck Jason! All Best, Fay
Yo Bro, Good Luck!
....a good dream! namaste...
Sounds like a great project, hope you make it! Richie
Good luck dude, Respect
Viel Glueck!
Imke
Yes! Best of luck to you. Julie
Hey Mr J. Good luck to ya.....fingers legs and eyes crossed! Suzy xx
Good luck, you've got my vote. Paula
fingers crossed Jason! c
go florio! —sachs
so utterly beautiful and so important
Great plan. Hope you win.
Sounds like a worthy effort and project to bring light to a dire situation.
Such a great cause... and I know how passionate you are about it. I will pass on your story and hope you all support Flo in returning to Addis.
Good Luck!!!
You have my vote too - I will never forget you talking about this experience. The world needs to learn more about this.... I will spread the word.
Bruke has an amazing story, and so do thousands of other children in Africa. My idea is about the children of Africa as well. I hope there are more ideas like ours out there that will draw the world's attention to these children and their cause. You have my vote. Good luck!!
GO Flo GO! x
So great you are making plans to continue this story. Keep on target, baby. You're doing great. xo
We can do it !!!!
we are doing it babe!! x
I am happy to live next to you. :)
Good luck, mate!
Rage at the front!
No se puede vivir sin amar.
cubi
Not bad for the first 24hrs!! Thank you everybody! JF
its a great project...hope that works out. dr
this is working...........
go for it 25 up and still looking
Hey Jason -we're rooting for you here at Aurora! jean
I have an elderly cousin who was a teacher/missionary in Ethiopia who thinks this is a fabulous idea.
Please tell your friends and family to GET OUT THE VOTE !
Great Idea.
good luck from nyc!!!
Good luck from sunny Belfast!!!
Ai cara... tudo legal.. voce ja' aprendeu a falar portugues?
'Ta' ai meu voto para voce bicho!
Te cuida malandro!
Voting for you! I remember when you began this story three years ago...we met through Anna Little and went out to dinner (Indian)...remember!?!? Hope you are well, cheers, Andrea
If anyone can do it you can Jason. Good Luck
Take me with you!
Good job ! Jason, all the very best and hope all goes well
good luck and we are all supporting you and THANK YOU! for trying to make a difference
so many people TAlk about what should be done but not many actualy DO something about it.
Mariahelen.
get in line, Tom!!! ;) xx
God bless you Jason. It's a good plan!!! Love Yvonne
very cool jason. break a leg.
good luck Florio
duh - good luck Jason I meant :)
Jason..blessed idea.do u remember z boy i gave my shirt when we saw him Shivering?.God bless you for your Kindness 4 all those kids suffering on the street of addis.
Good luck and good w` be with u.
Tariku From Ethiopia
Buena suerte Florio. Lx
Good LUCK Jason
xxRGO
Your passion and open heart always amaze me!!! Good Luck!!
You're an inspiration. What a sad, sad reality for Bruke and these other children
I hope you win
J x
what a wonderful project, a pleasure to vote for something like this - hope it works out - I will pass the message along as best I can :)
Katie
ditto all that was said before. Good luck Florio!!
good luck!
stunning photo...worthwhile project...very best of luck
Hi all, if you are commenting, you also need to press 'vote here'. There was some confusion as to whether just commenting constitutes a vote but, alas, it doesn't. So, if you leave a comment, please press 'vote' too. Thank you for all the votes to-date. Lets get more in!! :) H
this is a story that pulls on the heart. I had no idea how many children in Addis were living on the streets. the photo on helly's blog prompted me to come here to register and vote for you. i wish you well and do hope you win. I will pass this link on to friends and family here in Canada.
am spreading the word via facebook too...:)
Blessings and good luck to you.
Hey Jason, Good luck! We have our fingers crossed for you...
-Jen & Alejandro
Ok voted,
Good luck
Lola and Rémy
Great project idea. I hope you win.
xx
Shanna
good luck!!!
Thank you to all of you who have taken the time ! But to make this a reality please pass the link on... I have only 5 more days !!! Appreciatively yours. Jason (Florio)
oui oui mon ami - this would be a dream assignment, I'm pulling for you mate! ...alex
Great Idea! Good luck! Go for it!
Good luck with it Jason :)
Amazing!!! Good luck Jason, you have my vote for sure xxx
hope you get to do this, good luck!
Ciao Jason! Buona fortuna e....if you need some concrete help, let me know! Un mega bacio!
I VOTED JASON:)!
Oh it's me Taimak...lol
My good friend, Dana, told me about your work. Nice to e-meet you this way! I'm deeply impressed and moved by this photo.
Dear friends ! We are getting there inch by inch .... 4 more days to go... please get your friends onboard for the final push ... we need 50 votes per day to get into the top 20 at this point !
Thank you all again for taking the time. Jason Florio
Wow, good luck, Florio. Hope to see you soon!
Bruce
hey jason, just got my vote in for you, good luck
Good luck from Austin, TX. Hope you win it!
As a mother, this breaks my heart. You got my vote.......keep up the good work.
sounds like a great idea. good luck!
Anna (friend of Tom and Yvette)
viel glück! (gk)
Great vision - great promise of a future full-filled in the world. Thank you for your compassion and committment.
Another great opportunity to walk in the shoes of others. Brilliant!
good luck. i voted xx
Hey good luck Jason and hope it all works out.
Adding my vote and good luck ;-)
Having lived in Addis for 3 years I can tell you that these street kids are some of the bravest, most resourcesful kids in the world. They rely on their wits, each other and the kindness of strangers. They dream of (and deserve) a better life. Good luck with this wonderful project.
Hi Jason
this is Usman Baba talk so highly about you so i Voted :X
I think what you are doing is honorable. I wish more could be done. Is there a fundraiser in place to assist this endeavor? I hope you find Burke. I would love to do more. Tell me how I can help. I admire universal love projects and my intention is to create one of my own...
Lady Love
Hi Jason
i wish you well You've got my vote for sure anything for the children
i would love to make a donation to help :)
straight from the heart
Hey Lady Love, thank you for your vote. We may well be in touch with you about this (and I know we can contact you through Taimak).
Thanks also to everyone who has voted so far too.......whatever happens, awareness of whats happening is out getting out there :) Pass it on....please!
xx H & Jason
Am I losing sight and getting caught up? Thanks for this.
Wow, what a commendable effort! The thought of the children living in this way tears away at my heart. May your dream be accomplished, and may the good results of your efforts far exceed what you envision!
good luck dog!!!
Good idea, check out mine and vote for me if you like it. Its about poverty and society in 3rd world countries and how they are controlled, devastated by their governments and western industrialized nations.
Good Luck Jason! Thanks Helly J for bringing this to our attention x x
A Great Idea. Best Of Luck To You!
Good luck Jason- we need more of this Love Mishx
Good luck from Lower East Side.
good luck hope it goes well
this sounds like a great project. I wish you luck. Mine is idea is about exposing what is taking place in the congo. return the vote?