In the daylight, the expansive sky, soft clouds and glimpses of vibrant blue are spread overhead. Pale green plains of indistinct vegetation in varied shades of rich leafy green are layered into the frame as the large field fades into the background, touching the sky. To the left, a small tree with an arching trunk stands beside a thatched hut—one of three in the scene. One hut sits to the right, partly hidden, another one stands in the center—fully visible and shooting a little forward beyond the hut to the left. Built on textured, dry sand, the central hut is compact, with a steep A-frame shape, covered in raffia fibres of browns and greys. A young girl in a yellow ochre top and a multicolored wrapper stands on its roof wearing red slippers on her feet. One of her arms rests lightly on the corrugated zinc sheets tied to the roof’s top. She looks into the distance in a graceful curved pose. Her hair is packed in a single puff, though some strands rebel, flying free.
— Adéwùnmí Adébáyọ̀
I took the photo in a rural area in southern Madagascar. I was talking with another young mother when I saw her. There was something striking about the way she stood, looking out toward the horizon. It felt like a moment I couldn’t miss. I raised my camera and captured it instinctively—no setup, no pose. Just a raw, honest moment that said everything without words.
This photo is part of Children Raising Children, an ongoing personal project about young mothers carrying the weight of parenthood before adulthood. It’s more than a portrait—it’s a message of hope. Her gaze toward the horizon suggests possibility, strength, and the chance for a different future. It symbolizes a girl who, despite the odds, can still dream of freedom and a life beyond her current reality.
Apart from the technical side, a photo has to say something. I’m drawn to people—especially women—and the stories their faces, bodies, and spaces can tell. Photography gives me a way to highlight realities that are often ignored or silenced. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about truth. I use the camera to focus on moments and lives that deserve to be seen, to give voice to those who often go unheard. For me, photography is expression, documentation, and resistance, all at once.
Viviane Rakotoarivony is a 39-year-old self-taught photographer from Madagascar, specializing in documentary work. Starting in 2003, she’s tackled themes like motherhood, poverty, and addiction, with a focus on women’s lives. Her work has been exhibited locally and supported by NGOs including UN OCHA and The End Fund. She’s finalizing Children Raising Children, a long-term project on teen motherhood, using photography to spark dialogue and push for social change.
