Italian Photographer Shows What Childhood Looks Like In Different Corners Of The World (30 Pics)
Italian photographer Massimo Bietti travels the world capturing breathtaking photos along the way. His trademark is incredible portraits of people from the most distant corners of the globe and each tells a story about their lives. We collected a gallery of kids' portraits that reveal what childhood looks like in different parts of the world. Bietti explored countries from Russia, Norway, and India to Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, and many more to find these unforgettable faces and present an honest cross-cultural perspective on childhood.
Scroll down to meet these kids and get an unfiltered glimpse of what their everyday life looks like, including contrasts and similarities!
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South Sudan
This little boy looks as mischievous as the little kid he is holding. They both look like they have had many happy adventures together. And I bet that they don't have to go far to find trouble; Trouble most likely finds them.
Child says his pet's name is Dinner. The goat just realizes what that means.
We've all gone or are still going through childhood, but what these photos capture might not seem relatable. This occurs because, unfortunately, a so-called 'normal' childhood depends on where you live. In many parts of the world, children are still robbed of their childhood due to poverty, health issues, lack of education, child labor, early marriage, or violence despite many affected countries have set the well-being of their children and their brighter future as the highest priority.
According to the annual Global Childhood Report 2019, children of today have "a better chance than at any time in history to grow up healthy, educated and protected, with the opportunity to reach their full potential." 280 million children are better off today than they would have been in 2000, as the number of suffering children was reduced from an estimated 970 million to 690 million thanks to success stories of many countries that have made remarkable progress in improving children's lives. But there are still 280 million changes to be made!
Russia
safe from predators..he/she is a fearsome teddy bear
Load More Replies...He reminds me of Ralphie from A Christmas Story! "I can't put my arms down!"
Thank god, not all Russia has this kind of extreme weather conditions. This is probably Yakutia, the region where minus 50 is quite common in winter. Believe me, the majority of Russian kids do not look that bundled in winter.
India
This Indian girl is beautiful. Her smile lights up her face, & her vibrant brown eyes are mesmerizingly beautiful. She literally glows with an inner joyful light of Innocence that shines out from her eyes!
If you enjoyed these children's photos, you might also like similar articles on Bored Panda where we highlight other utterly talented photographers who choose to document children around the world. We have recently featured a wholesome story about Bangladeshi photographer GMB Akash, who turned the lives of working kids in Bangladesh upside down by sending them to school and taking full financial responsibility for their education. He captured their transformation in powerful before and after photos.
Another Italian photographer, Gabriele Galimberti, has been visiting children around the globe to capture their portraits with their most valuable toys to illustrate that all kids find their way to play despite their diverse backgrounds and conditions. Photographer Gregg Segal shot a photo series of what kids from different cultures eat in one week and English-born photographer James Mollison photographed where kids sleep.
Madagascar
Ethiopia
Russia
"You don't talk much kid, do ya?" (Guess the film. And I'm saying that about you too lol)
Load More Replies...Cambodia
So sweet! Those eyes and adorable little grin and little bald head just melts my heart 💞
Nepal
Are nose rings are the cultural norm there for kids? Interesting.
i think it's just like getting earrings: something people get and it's not a big deal
Load More Replies...Ethiopia
South Sudan
Unfortunately, the Christians of South Sudan are being slaughtered by Muslims. Is this boy next?
Vanuatu
2017 I visited Vanuatu. Never seen happier and giving people. IMG_1409-5...cc3d8f.jpg
Papua New Guinea
Ethiopia
is it natural to have this eye colour or is it due to some condition?...they look stunning
Apparently, he has Waardenburg syndrome: https://www.unilad.co.uk/life/ethiopian-boy-has-rare-bright-blue-eyes-that-make-him-unique/
Load More Replies...The Specials have an anti racism song called ‘Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys’.
Malaysia
Cambodia
my goodness.......that kid is quite fearless. sitting in a small bucket right beside a humongous reptile that can kill him and he's doing peace man????!!!
This picture (my opinion) Says "What up dawg" and this meme . . . . Me : ahhhh!! get ur f*****g dog bitch Him: He don't bite Me: Yes it do
Bangladesh
This makes you ashamed when you see kids with a room full of toys and they say "I have nothing to play with!"
Honestly, I feel like I shortchanged my daughter buying her so many toys. I feel I deprived her of the opportunity to more fully develop her creativity, ingenuity, the ability to make something awesome from nothing. I had very little growing up, and I can really tell the difference our "toy experiences" made in these areas.
Load More Replies...Grew up in poverty in a 3rd world country. Played with bottle caps, discarded plastic bottles and used cans. Climbed trees, splashed in the mud puddles in the rain and collected tadpoles. I think it was the only time I've truly experienced pure Joy!
I didn't but that was my childhood too; Beats iphones any day.
Load More Replies...this toy is very special though. it's plastic so it will never brake down unlike our soft toys and other things. it was probably handmade meaning that there was special effort put into this when it was made. unlike a lot of us we have many toys and nearly all of them I hardly play with anymore, he has one, and a very special one too.
He is so proud of the car. Maybe a family member made it for him? Look how he holds it. We don't get to experience that feeling in the first world. Receiving a hand made item (or self made) and feeling joy and personal pride as we play with our friends
I see things like this, and it makes me realize that first world children are sometimes shortchanged in ways we don't even realize
Norway
Malaysa
Ethiopia
That's what I first noticed too, the pattern and colors are stunning and beautiful. Sadly, I think the child is wearing a women's skirt as a frock and the photographer has captured heartbreaking poverty. :'(
Load More Replies...Next time when her mother goes shopping she should buy a slightly smaller size.....
I don't really have the answers but it has to do with human evolution I think. Try researching it on your own.
Load More Replies...Myanmar
This little boy’s robe indicates he is doing his monk training, as all Buddhist boys will at some point in their lives. Myanmar is a poor but beautiful country.
So sad that these boys are, in fact, "trafficked children" and sold to Buddhist monks.
So sad that these children are, in fact, "trafficked children" and sold as slaves to Buddha.
This poor baby. I see his eye is swollen and he's got a scar that shows a cut as well as stitches on his poor little head. May God be with him all the days of his life. 💙
Cambodia
He looks snug as a bug in a rug! Although his feet seem odd. But he's still beautiful! 💚
Italy
looks more like east Asian kiddo (nothing racist - all others seemed like natives)
India
Beautiful child 💙🖤💚💛💜🖤❤️ The Festival of Colors! Holi Festival 💙they throw this special and beautiful festival in India once a year, and it's so unique and gorgeous!They get some kind of powder in many bright colors and they throw it all around to celebrate happiness and goodness. Also the arrival of spring. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I wish we did something like this here also!!
Madagascar
India
Papua New Guinea
It looks that this child's head dress is made of leaves instead of the birds of paradise feathers of which are traditionally used and thus making them dangerously close to extinction. I hope that this is true.
might simply be that he's too young to be allowed to wear bird of paradise feathers
Load More Replies...Vanuatu
Please, people, why is a legitimate question being down voted. Tzippora is unlikely to be the only one to wonder
Probably because they don't give a f**k about dumb western cultural norms, and to them, being naked shouldn't be sexualized, in which case I agree. The human body is a body, not strictly a toy
Load More Replies...When I was in Europe, in the outer villages of Prague, it was totally normal to see little boys at the public pool in speedos. Some very young children would be naked. Some women were topless. And EVERY BODY TYPE was represented at the local pool, without embarrassment. I felt uncomfortable bc it wasn't MY normal. Didn't mean they were wrong.
Northern Italy here: probably an influence of German tourism over the years, but its quite normal to see very young children naked on the beaches.
Load More Replies...Why should he, if it's warm enough? I used to run around naked in summer when I was little.
South Sudan
South Sudan has a high rate of eye disease causing blindness. If you are so inclined to pick a charity, Doctors Without Borders do a great deal of work there and donations are used very well in the organisation.
Load More Replies...Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Cambodia
Bangladesh
Pets in Bangladesh, especially what we would consider wild animals are really close to the people and they both take care of each other 😀
Load More Replies...Russia
Cambodia
Russia
well, you are only off by 4000 km))) It's actually Yamal)
Load More Replies...Malaysia
Ethiopia
Sri Lanka
Myanmar
Thannaka is a paste that imparts beauty and protects the skin from the worst effects of the sun. I had some woman who dressed my face with it...the smell is subtlely lovely.
I feel if this sunscreen regimen was marketed in the U.S. more people would adopt it. I know I would've and still should..
Lao
South Sudan
Malaysia
South Sudan
Malaysia
India
Holi is practically powdered paint https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQLy5TdYYFyDNyQyHR4_doJ4nmGEEUVQ-tQqB7m2kXIp7bitXjd:https://www.tripsavvy.com/thmb/5RBpzPt3xtv5gvTm-vZR137SIyI%3D/1885x1414/smart/filters:no_upscale()/GettyImages-495237901-5a4b46960d327a00372ec269.jpg&usqp=CAU This looks like smashed Tomatoes
Load More Replies...umm... That is celebrated in Spain, not India. I think it's Holi that is being depicted here...
Load More Replies...Laos
Vanuatu
Malaysia
Madagascar
Papua New Guinea
Why should they, don't assume that your cultural standards are the best
Load More Replies...India
Russia
Malaysia
Cambodia
Ethiopia
Bangladesh
India
South Sudan
Cambodia
Ethiopia
India
Ethiopia
Cambodia
South Sudan
Vanuatu
...oh wait....? is that an erect penis on this child's clothing? I normally respect cutlrural norms but this one os a bit -interesting-...
Malaysia
Ethiopia
India
South Sudan
Does that have a handle or is he somehow balancing that and if he is how on Earth
South Sudan
Papua New Guinea
Vanuatu
India
South Sudan
India
South Sudan
Malaysia
Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Ethiopia
Nepal
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Myanmar
Papua New Guinea
Mary Rose Kent, please think about what you are typing before you post it. I've downgraded many of your comments on this thread and decided Im seeing this one through to downgrade any other insensitive comments that you probably don't even realize are insensitive. Hope you can appreciate this the thread for what it is, culture, perspective, and children. Please don't be disrespectful here.
Load More Replies...Malaysia
South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan
Bangladesh
Ethiopia
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
South Sudan
Cambodia
Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Malaysia
While the photos are looking great, seeing that ~90% of them are from like 6 different countries, I don't really think the term 'worldwide' is justified.
Notice all photos from Africa and certain parts of Asia are all tribal kids (read: from poor and undeveloped regions) . None from more modern parts of the continents. Selective biases?
Interesting idea, but to be blunt, the execution or presentation leaves a little to be desired. If this is a project on indigenous people, say so. If not, cast a wider net. I did love the pictures that were provided.
It would be very interesting if they would be holding their favorite toy.
These images are so beautiful and powerful. Very stunning! And, I hate to say it, but to those who are asking why the images are from only one region, it's probably because all the western and European countries already make up most of the media and photography? Although I agree it should have said in the title if it was a project focusing on native peoples. Regardless, the pictures are beautiful, the children more so! Very adorable!! :D
What's with the Russian and Norwegian kids in parkas? They have summer there, too. And why are so many of the Africa kids dirty? Just askin'. I'd love to occasionally see a Russian kid with an arm full of flowers, and one or two urban African kids in school uniforms. Just a little diversity would be nice. Not complaining, just wondering why it has to be so "Euro kids are all freezing, African kids are all tribal." Not complaining, but stereotypes are a tad boring. Note to Sharona: don't assume racism if you don't know the motives of the people commenting. Assuming another's motives could be construed as. . .well . . racist.
I love the diversity I see how even the worst places have cute children who have fun!
While the photos are looking great, seeing that ~90% of them are from like 6 different countries, I don't really think the term 'worldwide' is justified.
Notice all photos from Africa and certain parts of Asia are all tribal kids (read: from poor and undeveloped regions) . None from more modern parts of the continents. Selective biases?
Interesting idea, but to be blunt, the execution or presentation leaves a little to be desired. If this is a project on indigenous people, say so. If not, cast a wider net. I did love the pictures that were provided.
It would be very interesting if they would be holding their favorite toy.
These images are so beautiful and powerful. Very stunning! And, I hate to say it, but to those who are asking why the images are from only one region, it's probably because all the western and European countries already make up most of the media and photography? Although I agree it should have said in the title if it was a project focusing on native peoples. Regardless, the pictures are beautiful, the children more so! Very adorable!! :D
What's with the Russian and Norwegian kids in parkas? They have summer there, too. And why are so many of the Africa kids dirty? Just askin'. I'd love to occasionally see a Russian kid with an arm full of flowers, and one or two urban African kids in school uniforms. Just a little diversity would be nice. Not complaining, just wondering why it has to be so "Euro kids are all freezing, African kids are all tribal." Not complaining, but stereotypes are a tad boring. Note to Sharona: don't assume racism if you don't know the motives of the people commenting. Assuming another's motives could be construed as. . .well . . racist.
I love the diversity I see how even the worst places have cute children who have fun!
