Photographer Alvaro Laiz and David Rengel have a keen eye for capturing the sometimes cruel reality of the world we live in. In ‘Future Plans’, they profile Ugandan refugees. Since the war in Northern Uganda began in 1986, it has been marked by horrific acts of violence against civilians, and the displacement of nearly 2 million people from their homes. Especially prominent is Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), which kidnapped Ugandan children to be used as child soldiers and sex slaves. The series profiles individual Ugandan refugees who, despite being released from the LRA, continue to face the struggles of stigma and social isolation. In each image, the refugees stand against a wall that chronicles the horror of the war on their lives. They have lost things we often take for granted: parental love and guidance, education and acceptance. Each image is accompanied by the heartbreaking stories of the individual. Yet, there is a small ray of hope in an otherwise grim picture. Amidst the loss, they express hope for the future, wanting to ‘Raise a good family’, ‘Constant guidance and counselling’ and ‘children [to] study’. The sad reality is that these images profile only a few individuals amongst the millions still struggling to live for tomorrow. 

To see the full gallery, visit Alvaro Laiz’s website here!