Nomadic mothers

• Prize
• Photographer
  Didier Mayhew, France

In the outskirts of the major cities of Nepal, hundreds of landless families, coming from
the Southern plains of Terai, live under tents on waste grounds. Divided into different
clans, they speak either Bhojpuri or Maithili and lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from
one place to another in search of work and income. Their camps are barely visible and
exposed to harsh conditions, especially during monsoon.
While their husbands are away, working as labourers or itinerant sellers, the women live
in the tents and look after the children. During the day, two or three mothers keep the
camp with the children while the others walk barefoot in the neighbouring city. Some of
them beg for food, others collect old cloth that they wash and cut into pieces to be sold
to the mechanics.
For three years, I have accompanied several families from the South East District of
Sarlahi. They have lived together in five different camps in the valleys of Kathmandu and
Pokhara. The photographs presented here are part of a body of work focused on the daily
life in the camps and, more specifically, on the question of nomadic motherhood.

• Awards
  PX3 - Prix de la photographie Paris 2014 2nd prize. Portraiture Family 3rd prize. Portraiture Culture 3rd prize. Portraiture Culture 3rd prize. Portraiture Children 3rd prize. Portraiture Children 3rd prize. Portraiture Family 3rd prize. Portraiture Other Les Photographies de l'Année 2014 2nd place. Humanist Category PX3 - Prix de la photographie Paris 2013 People's Choice 1st prize. Feature Story Category 1st prize. General News Category 1st prize. Children Category 3rd prize. Portraiture Category 3rd prize. Feature Story Category Les Photographies de l'Année 2013 2nd place. Humanist Category 3rd place. Portrait Category IPA - International Photography Awards 2013 3rd place. Country Pick