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Rubbish tip Zabbaleen children, Cairo
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Rubbish tip Zabbaleen children, Cairo
Zabbaleen children on the rubbish tips of Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt Date: circa 1995
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 19534623
© Philip Dunn / Mary Evans Picture Library
1990s 1995 Dirt Dirty Filth Filthy Labor Labour Nineties Plastic Poor Poverty Recycle Recycling Scavenger Scavenging Stench Tips Trash Waste Worker
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This evocative photograph captures the daily reality of childhood in the Mokattam rubbish tips of Cairo, Egypt, during the 1990s. The Zabbaleen community, known as the "garbage people," made their living by scavenging and sorting through the mountains of waste that the city produced. In this image, a group of children, dressed in tattered clothes and wearing protective masks, sift through the mounds of trash in search of valuable recyclables. The scene is filled with the sights, sounds, and smells of the tip: the acrid smoke rising from burning plastic, the pungent stench of decaying waste, and the constant background noise of pickaxes and shovels. The children's faces are etched with the grime and dirt of their labor, and their eyes reflect a mix of determination and exhaustion. Despite the difficult conditions, they work alongside their families, contributing to the family income and learning valuable skills that will help them survive in their community. This poignant photograph offers a glimpse into the lives of the Zabbaleen children, highlighting the resilience and resourcefulness of those living in poverty and the importance of recycling and waste management in urban areas.
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