Photos of Children From Around the World With Their Most Prized Possessions

 

   

Chiwa – Mchinji, Malawi

Shot over a period of 18 months, Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti‘s project Toy Stories compiles photos of children from around the world with their prized possesions—their toys. Galimberti explores the universality of being a kid amidst the diversity of the countless corners of the world, saying, “at their age, they are pretty all much the same; they just want to play.”

But it’s how they play that seemed to differ from country to country. Galimberti found that children in richer countries were more possessive with their toys and that it took time before they allowed him to play with them (which is what he would do pre-shoot before arranging the toys), whereas in poorer countries he found it much easier to quickly interact, even if there were just two or three toys between them.
There were similarites too, especially in the functional and protective powers the toys represented for their proud owners. Across borders, the toys were reflective of the world each child was born into—economic status and daily life affecting the types of toys children found interest in. Toy Stories doesn’t just appeal in its cheerful demeanor, but it really becomes quite the anthropological study.


 Stella – Montecchio, Italy



Pavel – Kiev, Ukraine



Arafa & Aisha – Bububu, Zanzibar



Cun Zi Yi – Chongqing, China



Bethsaida – Port au Prince, Haiti



Orly-Brownsville,Texas



Botlhe – Maun, Botswana



Watcharapom – Bangkok, Thailand



Alessia – Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy



Norden – Massa, Morocco



Julia – Tirana, Albania



Keynor – Cahuita, Costa Rica



Shaira – Mumbai, India



Tangawizi – Keekorok, Kenya


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