Gimme ten. I know you can.

Here’s another slice of life for you courtesy of Rachel Corner (photography) and Laurens Nijzink (audio). I make no apologies for featuring this work again.

I know ten minutes is a little longer than most photofilms, but if you can’t take ten minutes out of your life to watch then you’re moving too fast.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/16083687[/vimeo]

In Kinshasa (Congo DRC), between an estimated 25.000 and 40.000 children are living on the street. They are either orphans or have been expelled by their families. Accusation of witchcraft is an often-cited reason for ousting a child from a household. Despite the violence and insecurity the children face on the street and the criminal activities and prostitution they sometimes have to employ in order to stay alive, many prefer street life to abuse at home.

Espace Masolo is a day centre that organizes French lessons and cultural activities – mainly their brass band – for street children taken in by other centers where they stay overnight. In Kinshasa it is rare to find such an organization that works with children on cultural projects. It is wonderful to see the brass band empowering these youngsters by giving them so much joy and self-confidence.

Rachel and Laurens have portrayed 3 children from this brass band. They tell their story about how they lost their families and what it means for them to play in the brass band. These are painful stories but, despite the burden they carry, the photofilm also shows how they found joy at Espace Masolo and that they radiate confidence about their future.

You can SUPPORT Espace Masolo by sending some money to their bank account at the BIAC (Banque Internationale pour l’Afrique au Congo). Account: 33000670101 CRSAA-Espace Masolo, Swift code: CCBPFRPP. This swift code is necessary for international transfers to the BIAC.