Discover stories of survival in our latest photography exhibition

This spring, we’re bringing the stories of South Sudan to the heart of Edinburgh in a powerful and immersive new exhibition.

‘Childhood Disrupted: Stories of survival and hope from children in conflict’ invites you to witness the bravery, strength and resilience of the children who share their lives with you, from their experiences of conflict and hunger to, for some, the longed-for journey to safety. 

The exhibition features the photography of Kate Holt and Philipp Schütz, and has been made possible by the support of the players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Exhibition details

The exhibition will be on display from 31 May to 2 June from 10am until 7pm daily at:

Assembly Rooms Edinburgh
54 George St
Edinburgh 
EH2 2LR

Admission is free. 

‘Every time I come here I am happy’

Image

In South Sudan, over 400,000 people – including Lim and his family – have had no choice but to flee across the border into Ethiopia. Photo credit: Plan International/Philipp Schütz

12-year-old Lim is just one of the children who have been caught up in the conflict in South Sudan, which has left over four million people displaced and seven million without enough food to eat. 

Following the outbreak of violence, Lim left his home with his mum and brother. Together, they walked for two months to reach the Ethiopian border, in the hope of finding safety. For the last two years, they’ve been living in Ethiopia’s refugee camps. 

Today, Lim is a daily visitor to the child-friendly space we’ve set up in his camp, where children have the chance to learn, draw and play – and to be children again, despite growing up in the toughest conditions.

"I come to the library at our child-friendly space and read. In the evenings, I come and play football. Every time I come here I am happy."

- Lim, Ethiopia

As well as providing child-friendly spaces, we’ve also been responding to the food crisis in South Sudan by providing seeds and tools to communities, so they can grow crops and provide food for their families. 

'Childhood Disrupted' shares the untold stories of this crisis, of children surviving in South Sudan and others, like Lim, who have had to flee their homes and begin again.

Our response to the South Sudanese refugee crisis in Ethiopia was funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Office (ECHO). Find out more about how we respond to disasters here >