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

{originally by Amanda Gorence for Feature Shoot}

Alessia – Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy

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. 

Cun Zi Yi – Chongqing, China

Julia – Tirana, Albania

Botlhe – Maun, Botswana

Keynor – Cahuita, Costa Rica

Bethsaida – Port au Prince, Haiti

Chiwa – Mchinji, Malawi

Arafa & Aisha – Bububu, Zanzibar

Tangawizi – Keekorok, Kenya

Watcharapom – Bangkok, Thailand

 

Stella - Montecchio, Italy

Shaira – Mumbai, India

Pavel – Kiev, Ukraine

Orly-Brownsville,Texas

Norden – Massa, Morocco

Personal Reflection:

"Galimberti found that children in richer countries were more possessive with their toys... whereas in poorer countries he found it much easier to quickly interact, even if there were just two or three toys between them."

This is an interesting observation. Even as children, we tend to become too attached to our material possessions when we live in abundance. Living in a culture of consumerism means we feel insecure when threatened by the idea of someone taking away our material possesions because we have been taught to believe that they are a significant part of our lives and our identity. All  the more reason why I am inspired by Graham Hill, a successful entrepreneur who now chooses to live a simpler and less cluttered life because he felt "...stuff ended up running my life, or a lot of it; the things I consumed ended up consuming me." (Living with Less. A Lot Less. New York Times)

This reflects our relationship with dunya. The more things we have the more attached we are to dunya and become heedless about the hereafter.

"The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you..."{Surah At-Takathur, 102:1}

"Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment." {Surah Ar-Rad. 13:26}

This is not to say being wealthy is not commendable in Islam but we should understand the wealth or provision (rizq) we have been given is a trust (amanah) from God. And when we see others who have less wealth than us we shouldn't look down on them because it is due to Allah's wisdom that different people are in different situations. Everything is from God and "having less" is a matter of perspective.

Also, did you notice only one child selected books to be part of his collection of prized possessions? No doubt it is perfectly normal for children to love their toys but books (and reading) can be fun too, no?

I enjoyed reading through the comments in the original post. Despite the various observations and commentaries we can sum up from the photos all the kids are cute in their own way. Check out more photos from the Toy Stories project.