These photographs in Bobby’s exhibit were shown at the UN 10 years ago, and are now back having toured the world with Sting’s concerts.
The smallest ray of light can ignite the human spirit's ability to overcome. In war-torn countries around the world philanthropist and photographer Bobby Sager has discovered the transcendent power of hope through the eyes of children. Despite unthinkable violence and destruction, his portraits reveal joy, innocence, and strength.
“I wrote the metaphor for the song "Invisible Sun" long before there were any peace talks or ideas about power sharing Northern Ireland. It was just a dreamer’s fantasy that something unseen and beyond our normal awareness was sustaining us in some vague hope for the future, a hope that found a resonance in the human spirit, beyond these dismal streets, beyond the promises and dark threats of our politicians, beyond the dark clouds of our history.
My friend Bobby Sager has been taking photographs of children in war-torn areas such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda, and the refugee camps of northern Pakistan and Palestine. Their faces are the invisible sun made visible.”
– Sting
There has to be an invisible sun it gives its heat to everyone there has to be an invisible sun that gives us hope when the whole day’s done.
Lyrics 'Invisible Sun' - Sting
THE CHILDREN ARE OUR TEACHERS
Their wisdom is born out of turmoil and journey. They are resilient, grateful, openhearted human beings in search of respect and opportunity. It is through their eyes that we hear their voices, feel their humanity and hopefully better understand their challenges.
Khyber Pass, Federally administered tribal areas,
Afghanistan-Pakistan Border, 2000.
Northern Kabul, Afghanistan, 2001.
Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002.
Afghan refugee processing center, Pakistan, 2001.
Gratitude for the smallest things
These children nourish themselves with gratitude for the smallest things – a front yard, a football, a roof on their school, clean water to drink. It’s hard to be happy unless you’re thankful, and it’s difficult to be thankful without some context
"This is one of only two high schools..."
Hear photographer Bobby Sager speak about these images in his own words throughout this gallery.
Kacha Garhi Refugee Camp, North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, 2001.
My family and I stayed in this camp after an earthquake, that struck the Himalayan region of Northern Pakistan and Kashmir. Destroyed the homes of over 3 million people. We were at the camp to distribute tens of thousands of blankets. Internally displaced persons camp, NWFP, Pakistan, 2005.
A good blanket is a sign of caring; a great blanket is a sign of respect. Helping must always be done respectfully, with the dignity of those you are helping in mind. Internally displaced persons camp, NWFP, Pakistan, 2005.
Authentic Connection
Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002.
Same 3 children, radically different moment
Balakot, NWFP, Pakistan, 2005.
"This girl's village was destroyed by an earthquake a week before I took this photograph, but even in the midst of mind-numbing devastation there is still strength and spirit in her eyes." Balakot, NWFP, Pakistan, 2005.
Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002.
Afghan Refugee Processing Center, Pakistan, 2001.
"This child was 9 years old when I took this picture. He is now about 27. The crisis in Afghanistan has been ongoing for over 18 years."
Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002.
Our common humanity
Same moment, a world away – these are two different photographs that have simply been laid next to each other. The details are different, but the essential being is the same. We are so much alike, yet we continue to focus on our microscopic differences. Are we entering their world or are they entering ours?
Kigali, Rwanda, 2005 (left). Lo Manthang, Nepal, 2003 (right).
Central Market, Kigali, Rwanda, 2003.
Tibetan Refugee Camp Four, near Sera Jay Monastery, Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 2005.
Salam School, Reyhanli, Turkey (Syrian Turkish Border), 2013.
Salam School, Reyhanli, Turkey (Syrian Turkish Border), 2013.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Camp, Pakistan, 2001.
The power of hope
After the 1994 genocide in Rwanda against the Tutsi, bodies littered the streets; the areas often lacked electricity and had basically no working vehicles. Now, more than 26 years later, Rwanda ranks in the top 10 countries for gender equality and has the largest percentage of women in parliament of any country in the world.
Central Prison, Kigali, Rwanda, 2007.
"This little girl lives with her mother in a jail. The inner door to the jail’s courtyard is about to close for the night."
The human spirit's ability to overcome
Living life in the midst of chaos and hardship, the slightest ray of light can ignite the human spirit's ability to overcome.
Spiderman to the rescue: in this lifeless hallway of worn concrete, imagination overrides circumstance. Dandelion Migrant School, Da Xing District, Beijing, China, 2016.
Muslim School, Weligama, Sri Lanka, 2001.
Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2001.
All photos in this gallery © Bobby Sager