Orphan girl, Shalom House. Burundi, 2001

Size: 20 x 16 inches.

Edition of 10 with two artist proofs, signed and numbered. C-Type Fuji Crystal Archive Paper.

Price upon request.

This image was from an assignment I wrote and photographed for Marie Claire Magazine called 'The Foolish Woman of Burundi'. The story focussed on the work of Marguerite 'Maggy' Barankitse who, at the height of the genocide, managed to save a number of Hutu children from a mob. Barankitse subsequently - and at great personal risk - built a shelter for orphan children of all ethnicities - Shalom House - in the small town of Ruyigi. 

I stayed at Shalom House for a couple of weeks and made the photograph during a slow, sleepy Sunday afternoon when this girl was dozing on her bed and the light was lazily creeping down the wall.

In June 2005 the  work was exhibited at the Salon du Livre in Brussels as part of the Nansen Refugee Award for Barankitse.