Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

As part of their community development project, Tractabel Engineering, a Belgium company, offered to bring electricity to the Don Bosco orphanage in Goma, in the Demeocrtatic Republic of Congo.
To highlight the benefits that electricity would bring to the 1500 children who reside in the centre, they launched a creative competition amongst the children, with the title“ How electricity will change my life.”
Electricity at the centre is sporadic, and the few electrical appliances that are available are very outdated, and hardly ever work.
This series of photographs looks at the children creating their interpretation of this phrase.
Left: A young boy from the Street children program in Goma that Don Bosco supports holds up his creation of an electric boat.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

Children from the street children project in their playground with Goma’s volcano in the distance. Much of Goma is built on the lava, left over when the volcano erupted several years ago.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

This is the only television in Don Bosco orphanage and it is so small the children have to take turns to watch it. It is one of the few electrical appliances that runs off the centers small generator.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

Boys from Don Bosco prepare their entries for the competition.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

Boys from the Street Children project prepare their entry for the competition.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

A young boy from the Street Chidlren project shows off his groups entry. They have made a model town of Goma, which lights up with battery operated street lights.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

Boys from the Street Children project work on their entry.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

An older boy from Don Bosco prepares his entry drawing
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

Girls from the Street Children project have learnt how to sew to be able to prepare their entry.
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Don Bosco Orphanage Projects, Democratic Republic of Congo
June 2006

A young girl from the Inuka Housing project prepares her entry of a paper lantern.
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