Carolina RApezzi

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Eighteen-year-old Gafaru pauses after burning a large pile of electronic waste in Agbogbloshie, Accra—once one of the world's largest informal electronic waste recycling sites. Deaf since childhood after a severe illness, Gafaru left school at an early age and travelled from northern Ghana in search of work. Today, he survives by burning discarded electrical cables to recover valuable metals, earning only a few euros a day while being exposed to toxic smoke and hazardous working conditions.

This photograph forms part of Agbogbloshie, a long-term documentary project by photojournalist Carolina Rapezzi, developed between 2018 and 2024. Through extensive fieldwork and conversations with workers and their families, the project documents not only the environmental consequences of global electronic waste but also the lives, memories, and resilience of the people who depend on this informal economy for survival.

Rather than portraying Gafaru as a victim, the photograph invites us to recognise his dignity and resilience while reflecting on the global systems of consumption and inequality that place vulnerable communities at the front line of environmental degradation.

Carolina Rapezzi is an Italian photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work explores human rights, environmental justice, migration, and social inequality. Through long-term, research-based projects, she documents the lives of communities affected by conflict, poverty, and environmental change, combining visual storytelling with in-depth field investigation.

Her practice seeks to give visibility to people whose stories are often overlooked, creating space for dialogue around dignity, memory, and collective responsibility. By connecting local experiences with global issues, Carolina's work encourages viewers to reflect on the human impact of the choices we make as societies.

Gafaru's story reminds us that behind every discarded electronic device are people whose health, livelihoods, and futures are affected by the global waste economy. Human rights include not only access to work, but also the right to work in safe and dignified conditions.

 Component Sense CEO, Kenny McGee, discovers Agbogbloshie and its community. A 14-day experience to gain a firsthand understanding of the complex realities surrounding the lifespan of second-hand electronic and electrical goods, as well as recycling, repair practices, and ultimate disposal methods.

In partnership with Component Sense - September 2024.

Images  Carolina Rapezzi 

Voice  Kenny McGee

Local producer Fred Lefixer Vedomey 

Drone images Good Captions - Gilbert Mbah

7 April 2022 | Volodumuz, 8, spends hours playing with balloons and musical toys at the Caritas welcoming center in Siret, Romania. He is autistic, nonverbal, unable to chew, and can only eat the foods he selects. Additionally, he is blind. Abandoned shortly after birth, he has lived in a special school ever since. He arrived in Siret on April 7th after a journey of approximately two weeks. Volodumuz is accompanied by Tanya, an educator who has cared for him at his special school in their hometown. To ensure the safety of Volodumuz, as well as Sergiy and Sasha, two other disabled orphans, Tanya made the difficult decision to leave one of her sons in Ukraine with his grandmother. Her youngest son is traveling with them as they seek refuge in another country until the war ends.

This image conveys the urgency to respect and protect fundamental human rights to safety, dignity, healthcare and special protection guaranteed by international law. And it does so by portraying Volodumuz lived reality, of one of the most vulnerable individuals affected by war: a disabled, autistic, and blind child seeking refuge from conflict.

Project statement:

Since the onset of the Russian invasion in February 2022, some of the most vulnerable individuals fleeing Ukraine have included orphans, children with disabilities, minors, and autistic individuals. 

Disabled orphans are often accompanied by their tutors or social educators—many of whom are mothers themselves. Some travel with their own children, while others are forced to leave their families behind in order to ensure the safety of those in their care.

For those with limited mobility, autism, blindness, or other disabilities, fleeing war zones requires specialized evacuation plans. Adapting to temporary and unfamiliar environments presents an ongoing challenge. Unlike other refugees, people with disabilities depend on access to specialized facilities, professional support, and medical treatments.

The prospect of returning to Ukraine remains uncertain. Social educators are exhausted and deeply miss their families. Although they hope to return one day, the process will likely be slow and complex due to bureaucratic hurdles, logistical challenges, and legal procedures.