Suzanne Lee Photographer

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  • Mamta (standing, in pink), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Chandrawati (center, in black), age unknown, sits on the floor amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, talks of being a cultural musician at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi (center, in red), 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012.  Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Journalist Suryatapa Bhattacharya reports in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012.  Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...jpg
  • An overview of the rag-picker's colony Lodha Basti, in Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of the children living here are rag-pickers like the rest of their families. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, sits amongst other rag-picker's children in class in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Mamta (standing, in pink), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Mamta (standing, in pink), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Activity center teacher Shiksha Sharma (standing, center) has been teaching the rag-picker's children for 3 months in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Chandrawati (standing, in black), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Rag-picker Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. She goes to school from 8-12 in the morning, and studies again at the activity center after her work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Rag-picker Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. She goes to school from 8-12 in the morning, and studies again at the activity center after her work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Chandrawati (center, in black), age unknown, sits on the floor amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, poses for a portrait in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • A group of travelling Rajasthani snake charmers sit in their temporary camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath (extreme right), a snake charmer. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Vicky Nath, 11, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Vicky dropped out of school for 2 years to work as a domestic help daily-wage labourer but was re-enrolled last year as part of the Nai Duniya program and is in Class 4 now. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Vicky Nath, 11, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Vicky dropped out of school for 2 years to work as a domestic help daily-wage labourer but was re-enrolled last year as part of the Nai Duniya program and is in Class 4 now. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, holds his snake charming musical instruments, that he now uses in cultural performances (without the snakes), at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, holds his snake charming musical instruments, that he now uses in cultural performances (without the snakes), at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, talks of being a cultural musician at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • An overview of the Nai Duniya Children's Activity Center in the rag-picker's colony Lodha Basti, in Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of the children living here are rag-pickers like the rest of their families. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Activity center teacher Shiksha Sharma has been teaching the rag-picker's children for 3 months in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, kneels amongst other rag-picker's children in class in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Rinka (center, in green), age unknown, squats amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sajna (center, in black), age unknown, sits amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Mamta (standing, in pink), age unknown, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Most of these children work as rag-pickers. They go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, sits amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, sits amongst other rag-picker's children as they learn basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. Most of these children are rag-pickers themselves. They are now able to go to school from 8-12 in the morning, and study again at the activity center after work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Rag-picker Sundar (center, in black), 8-9 years, leads the class in learning basic numerics in the Nai Duniya activity center in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Sundar walks 1.5km to and from her rag-picking work each day. She goes to school from 8-12 in the morning, and studies again at the activity center after her work at 4pm. A new program to encourage the rag-picker's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming the next generation of rag-pickers in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, poses for a portrait in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and hence their children are not learning the traditional trade. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Snake charmer Baba Prakash Nath (center, in red & white), 35, sits in a temporary camp of travelling snake charmers from Rajasthan who have pitched camp in remote Lodha Basti, Manana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "The government banned our trade but didn't give us any alternative options of livelihood," says Baba Prakash Nath. India's traditional snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and  are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Manju Devi, 15, sits in the compounds of her home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Her late father was a snake charmer and her mother has gone through multiple operations to remove a tumor, so she had to drop out of school to look after her siblings and to contribute to the household income by working as a brick carrier from 8am to 5pm in construction sites for INR 25 (USD 0.45)per day. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Sanjay Kumar, 22, a former snake charmer, holds his snake charming musical instruments, that he now uses in cultural performances (without the snakes), at his home in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. "Only during elections does the government pay attention to us," he says. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi (center, in red), 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi, 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012. Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Kusum Devi (center, in red), 10, sits amongst other snake charmer's children in Naraina gaon, Titana village, Samalkha town, Haryana, India on 15th June 2012.  Kusum walks to and from her school daily, one kilometer away from her village. When she is not schooling, she takes care of her family and their livestock. India's snake charmer communities suffer from a loss of livelihood because of stringent wildlife laws and are forced to resort to begging or working as daily wage labourers. A new program to encourage the snake charmer's children to attend school is underway, to keep them from becoming daily-wage child labourers or joining their parents in scavenging and begging in cities. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National
    suzanne20120615-nat-snake-charmers-0...JPG
  • Dhundi Raj Tiwari, 20, a Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) member poses for a portrait at the information center they built in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. Dhundi with the VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0665.JPG
  • Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) members (L-R) Dhundi Raj Tiwari (20), Mahanan Acharya (40), and Durga Prasad Bhatarai (46), speak of their work and the issues of child marriage  in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. The VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0703.JPG
  • Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) members (L-R) Durga Prasad Bhatarai (46), and Harsha Bahadur Pun (63) speak of their work and the issues of child marriage  in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. The VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0700.JPG
  • Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) members (L-R) Dhundi Raj Tiwari (20), Mahanan Acharya (40), Durga Prasad Bhatarai (46), and Harsha Bahadur Pun (63) speak of their work and the issues of child marriage  in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. The VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0707.JPG
  • Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) members (L-R) Dhundi Raj Tiwari (20), Mahanan Acharya (40), Durga Prasad Bhatarai (46), and Harsha Bahadur Pun (63) speak of their work and the issues of child marriage  in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. The VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0692.JPG
  • Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) members (L-R) Mahanan Acharya (40), Durga Prasad Bhatarai (46), and Harsha Bahadur Pun (63) speak of their work and the issues of child marriage  in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. The VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0686.JPG
  • Dhundi Raj Tiwari, 20, a Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) member poses for a portrait at the information center they built in Lekhapharsa vilage, Surkhet district, Western Nepal, on 30th June 2012. Dhundi with the VCPC works to intervene in child marriages such as the case of Pramila and is supported by Save the Children and local NGO Safer Societies. In Surkhet, StC partners with Safer Society, a local NGO which advocates for child rights and against child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Save The Children UK
    suzanne20120630-stc-fp-nepal-0662.JPG
  • Choti Devi (right), aged 63, harvests Bengal Gram from her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan, together with hired labour. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a  solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Choti Devi (right), aged 63, harvests Bengal Gram from her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan, together with hired labour. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a  solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Choti Devi, aged 63, speaks about the benefits of solar power while in her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Choti Devi (right), aged 63, harvests Bengal Gram from her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan, together with hired labour. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a  solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Choti Devi (right), aged 63, harvests Bengal Gram from her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan, together with hired labour. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a  solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Choti Devi, aged 63, poses for a portrait in her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a  solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Choti Devi (left), aged 63, harvests Bengal Gram from her field in Balaji ki Dhani, Bauli, Nagaur District, Rajasthan, together with hired labour. Barefoot solar engineer Santosh Devi who graduated from a  solar course in the Barefoot College in Tilonia, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, had provided Choti Devi with solar power and lanterns improving her life by allowing her to protect herself from poisonous monsoon insects and work late in the fields, cook in the night, and protect her cattle when they return from grazing after sunset. Photo by Suzanne Lee for Panos London
    Suzanne20110401-Solar-Power-Rajastha...JPG
  • Mony Mala (16) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Mony says, "I'm still a child, not prepared to be a wife. I feel pained that my parents don't see a point in educating me just because I'm a girl. I feel terrible when we are not able to stop a child marriage because the elders do not listen to us." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0916.jpg
  • Child bride Rina Akhter Meghla (14) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. "I was about to be wed. The groom was already selected. I told my parents that I didn't want to get married now because I just will be a servant to my husband. I wanted to be independent." Her parents had said that they wanted to marry her off because she was watching too much television and not doing well in school, after which she promised to stop watching TV and improve her grades. Her ambition is to be a police inspector. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0876.jpg
  • Jewel Mahammud Kawsan (17, center right) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. When asked if an abused wife could return to her family, Jewel says, "Society doesn't take it well. It is not accepted if she leaves the husband's house. Even (her own parents) will tell her to be accommodative even if her husband beats her, because after marriage, that is now her real address." Jewel also tells a true story of a girl who used to be a member of the children's group. When she turned 14/15, her parents wanted to marry her off. The children's group went to village elders to counsel the family and the marriage was stopped. The children felt proud but sadly, after 2 months, she was quietly married off. Now, at 18, she is a mother of a girl child and is not happy in the marriage. Her husband is also a young boy but is violent in nature and beats her. She is tied to motherhood and house chores and not allowed to join the other children. The families are also fighting because of dowry related issues." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0787.jpg
  • Young girls sit in a group at a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. The Bhashantek Basti Children's Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. About 20150 people live in the Bhashantek urban slum, with an average household size of 5 in housing sizes of 8 x 9ft made of bamboo, tin sheets and scrap materials. The average annual income is USD 200. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0758.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13, red scarf) hands over a list of potential child brides while speaking in a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0667.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13, red scarf) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0659.jpg
  • A woman dries her yield outside the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • A villager prays to the goddess Durga, who is always depicted riding a tiger, in the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to Durga and this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Jewel Mahammud Kawsan (17) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. When asked if an abused wife could return to her family, Jewel says, "Society doesn't take it well. It is not accepted if she leaves the husband's house. Even (her own parents) will tell her to be accommodative even if her husband beats her, because after marriage, that is now her real address." Jewel also tells a true story of a girl who used to be a member of the children's group. When she turned 14/15, her parents wanted to marry her off. The children's group went to village elders to counsel the family and the marriage was stopped. The children felt proud but sadly, after 2 months, she was quietly married off. Now, at 18, she is a mother of a girl child and is not happy in the marriage. Her husband is also a young boy but is violent in nature and beats her. She is tied to motherhood and house chores and not allowed to join the other children. The families are also fighting because of dowry related issues." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0983.jpg
  • Nusrat Jahan Popy (16) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Popy says, "I feel helpless, not angry (if my parents would try to marry me off). I can do stitching and we want to be allowed to work so that we can earn money to support ourselves in our studies and to rid ourselves of poverty and gain independence." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0940.jpg
  • Mony Mala (16) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Mony says, "I'm still a child, not prepared to be a wife. I feel pained that my parents don't see a point in educating me just because I'm a girl. I feel terrible when we are not able to stop a child marriage because the elders do not listen to us." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0922.jpg
  • Child bride Rina Akhter Meghla (14) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. "I was about to be wed. The groom was already selected. I told my parents that I didn't want to get married now because I just will be a servant to my husband. I wanted to be independent." Her parents had said that they wanted to marry her off because she was watching too much television and not doing well in school, after which she promised to stop watching TV and improve her grades. Her ambition is to be a police inspector. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0908.jpg
  • Child bride Rina Akhter Meghla (14) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. "I was about to be wed. The groom was already selected. I told my parents that I didn't want to get married now because I just will be a servant to my husband. I wanted to be independent." Her parents had said that they wanted to marry her off because she was watching too much television and not doing well in school, after which she promised to stop watching TV and improve her grades. Her ambition is to be a police inspector. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0894.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0867.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0836.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0832.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0819.jpg
  • Jewel Mahammud Kawsan (17, center right) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. When asked if an abused wife could return to her family, Jewel says, "Society doesn't take it well. It is not accepted if she leaves the husband's house. Even (her own parents) will tell her to be accommodative even if her husband beats her, because after marriage, that is now her real address." Jewel also tells a true story of a girl who used to be a member of the children's group. When she turned 14/15, her parents wanted to marry her off. The children's group went to village elders to counsel the family and the marriage was stopped. The children felt proud but sadly, after 2 months, she was quietly married off. Now, at 18, she is a mother of a girl child and is not happy in the marriage. Her husband is also a young boy but is violent in nature and beats her. She is tied to motherhood and house chores and not allowed to join the other children. The families are also fighting because of dowry related issues." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0795.jpg
  • Rina Akhter Meghla (14, baby blue scarf) speaks of her ordeal during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. "I was about to be wed. The groom was already selected. I told my parents that I didn't want to get married now because I just will be a servant to my husband. I wanted to be independent." Her parents had said that they wanted to marry her off because she was watching too much television and not doing well in school, after which she promised to stop watching TV and improve her grades. Her ambition is to be a police inspector. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0744.jpg
  • Rina Akhter Meghla (14, baby blue scarf) speaks of her ordeal during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. "I was about to be wed. The groom was already selected. I told my parents that I didn't want to get married now because I just will be a servant to my husband. I wanted to be independent." Her parents had said that they wanted to marry her off because she was watching too much television and not doing well in school, after which she promised to stop watching TV and improve her grades. Her ambition is to be a police inspector. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0730.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11, in pink shirt) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0681.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11, in pink shirt) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0679.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13, red scarf) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0642.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13, red scarf) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0639.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11, in pink shirt) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0603.jpg
  • Oli Ahmed (11, in pink shirt) speaks during a monthly meeting of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Oli says, "We are in extreme poverty. If our parents get a good price for our marriages, there is nothing we can do. (Also,) we are now in the era of gender equality and girls should be allowed to study instead of being married off." Oli wants to be a doctor when he grows up. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0587.jpg
  • The tribal goddess Bono Debi/Bono Bibi on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • An idol of the goddess Durga, who is always depicted riding a tiger, in the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • A woman dries her yield outside the Bono Debi/Bono Bibi temple on Gosaba island, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, on 18th January, 2012. A tiger hid in this temple after attacking a woman. Villagers pray to this endemic goddess, known as Bono Debi to Hindus and Bono Bibi to Muslims, to protect them from tigers. Tigers have been known to swim, sometimes underwater, to the village to hunt humans. A successful Royal Bengal tiger breeding program has increased their numbers but decreased the number of husbands. There are now an estimated 3,000 widows in the villages where their husbands, have been killed by tigers. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The National (online byline: Photo by Szu for The National)
    Suzanne20120118-Tiger-Widows-Sundarb...jpg
  • Jewel Mahammud Kawsan (17) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. When asked if an abused wife could return to her family, Jewel says, "Society doesn't take it well. It is not accepted if she leaves the husband's house. Even (her own parents) will tell her to be accommodative even if her husband beats her, because after marriage, that is now her real address." Jewel also tells a true story of a girl who used to be a member of the children's group. When she turned 14/15, her parents wanted to marry her off. The children's group went to village elders to counsel the family and the marriage was stopped. The children felt proud but sadly, after 2 months, she was quietly married off. Now, at 18, she is a mother of a girl child and is not happy in the marriage. Her husband is also a young boy but is violent in nature and beats her. She is tied to motherhood and house chores and not allowed to join the other children. The families are also fighting because of dowry related issues." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-1001.jpg
  • Jewel Mahammud Kawsan (17) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. When asked if an abused wife could return to her family, Jewel says, "Society doesn't take it well. It is not accepted if she leaves the husband's house. Even (her own parents) will tell her to be accommodative even if her husband beats her, because after marriage, that is now her real address." Jewel also tells a true story of a girl who used to be a member of the children's group. When she turned 14/15, her parents wanted to marry her off. The children's group went to village elders to counsel the family and the marriage was stopped. The children felt proud but sadly, after 2 months, she was quietly married off. Now, at 18, she is a mother of a girl child and is not happy in the marriage. Her husband is also a young boy but is violent in nature and beats her. She is tied to motherhood and house chores and not allowed to join the other children. The families are also fighting because of dowry related issues." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0976.jpg
  • Nusrat Jahan Popy (16) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Popy says, "I feel helpless, not angry (if my parents would try to marry me off). I can do stitching and we want to be allowed to work so that we can earn money to support ourselves in our studies and to rid ourselves of poverty and gain independence." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0952.jpg
  • Nusrat Jahan Popy (16) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Popy says, "I feel helpless, not angry (if my parents would try to marry me off). I can do stitching and we want to be allowed to work so that we can earn money to support ourselves in our studies and to rid ourselves of poverty and gain independence." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0947.jpg
  • Mony Mala (16) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Mony says, "I'm still a child, not prepared to be a wife. I feel pained that my parents don't see a point in educating me just because I'm a girl. I feel terrible when we are not able to stop a child marriage because the elders do not listen to us." The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0925.jpg
  • Child bride Rina Akhter Meghla (14) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. "I was about to be wed. The groom was already selected. I told my parents that I didn't want to get married now because I just will be a servant to my husband. I wanted to be independent." Her parents had said that they wanted to marry her off because she was watching too much television and not doing well in school, after which she promised to stop watching TV and improve her grades. Her ambition is to be a police inspector. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0890.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0872.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0861.jpg
  • Tamanna Jinnat (13) sits for a portrait in the meeting hut of a Children's Group in Bhashantek Basti (Slum) in Zon H, Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23rd September 2011. Tamanna explains, "we have an organised system: we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be a proof of their age." Tamanna's mother said that "at your age, you are not aware of the benefits of an early marriage," to which Tamanna replied, "how about issues of maternal mortality from being too young to bear children?". She also wants to be allowed to work part time so she can support her own education and independence. The Bhashantek Basti Childrens Group is run by children for children with the facilitation of PLAN Bangladesh and other partner NGOs. Slum children from ages 8 to 17 run the group within their own communities to protect vulnerable children from child related issues such as child marriage. Photo by Suzanne Lee for The Guardian
    Suzanne20110921-Guardian-Plan-0845.jpg
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