The Most Dangerous Ways to School

Those who attend school in the mountain village of Kumpur, walk across the mountains of the highest situated country on earth. Today it's normal that the kids go to school in the valley, but just 50 years ago the village was completely self sufficient. Today the children go to the city almost on a daily basis and are immediately forced to cross the dangerous river. A village in distress is left behind. These families have lived on their land now for thousands of years herding their life-sustaining cattle without electricity, running water or contact to the outside world. Although they constantly ask themselves if the promise of an education justifies the danger of the path involved, they send their children day after day to school.

For centuries now, the Dorn Savanna has been the lifeline for the Massai people. Until today, they refuse to get involved in the constant upheavals in Kenya and instead continue to cultivate their traditions. The Massai have lived in the border region between Tanzania and Kenya for hundreds of years; almost completely removed from all civilization. In some ways their remoteness has spared them from many ordeals. But on the other hand, this autarkical life can be problematic, especially when it comes to the education of their children. The students destination: The Ntuka Primary School. The only school within a radius of about 20 kilometers. Often they are too late, but the teacher understands, he is aware of the long school route.

Twice a year the forbidding journey to the boarding school is necessary. It is a route that is so notorious, that it even has a name: Chadar- the path over the cloak of ice. There are countless dangerous situations that make this way to school so unpredictable. But after four days it is over, they have reached their goal; the city of Leh and the school.

It is early in the morning as Vidal gets himself ready. But before Vidal can brace himself for his dangerous way to school he must take care of his family`s sustenance – like every morning he checks the fishing nets. After work it`s time for a Uro bread and he drinks a Mate tea. After two hours of paddling, Vidal reaches the center of the village. He floats past houses, where a family is building their new island since the old one has began to rot. After three hours of paddling, Vidal has finally reached the Uro elementary school where he learns to read and write. Here besides his native language, he also learns Spanish. It is not the language of his parents, but at the same time it is his chance of a future outside of his village.

Siberia. Endless vastness – arctic temperatures. Even farther East than Japan and 5 000 kilometres north of Vladivostok lies Yakutia, the coldest Republik of Russia. Yakutsk is the capital of the Yakutia Republic and is located about 5100 kilometres east of Moscow. In the midst of it: Oimjakon. With its 500 residents the coldest inhabited place on earth. This village lies in a mountain valley on the upper reaches of the banks of the Indgirka River. One of the major reasons for the freezing temperatures is the great distance from the Atlantic Ocean and the humidity that the Ocean provides to a major part of the Northern Hemisphere. Masses of mountains shield Siberia against the warm air from the west and south, while in the opposite direction, the door to the Artic stands wide open. Thus in the winter, cold masses of air expand into the Siberian landscape completely unrestricted.