Blog | Jeremy Snell

Indian rice farmer (at Chennai, India)

Setting the Nets (at Ghana)

Sea of nets (at Ghana)

Rajasthan, India March 2017 (at Rajasthan)

Desert design (at Rajasthan)

I'll never forget the kids on this lake. #journeywithijm (at Volta Region)

As I end my trip in Ghana, I can't help but think about the complexity of the situation here. Having spent over a week on the lake coming into contact with hundreds of children fishing on boats, I leave with more questions than answers. . Trafficking and child labor in the fishing industry is extremely common and incredibly complicated, and beyond all this injustice, poverty remains a driving force behind people's decisions and fears. . What I do know is...no kid should ever have to work like this. (at Volta Region)

Fishing nets in the shallows. #journeywithijm (at Volta Region)

A portrait of Steven in his classroom while attending school, something that thousands of boys living along the lake don't have the chance to do. #journeywithijm #shotoniphone7plus (at Volta Region)

Children are often in charge of untangling nets from all the trees and shrubs underwater. Because the water is quite murky, they are very good at holding their breath for long periods of time. #journeywithijm (at Volta Region)

Two boys paddling out to set fishing traps on the lake. #journeywithijm (at Central Region, Ghana)

Many of the boys forced to fish on the lake aren't allowed to go to school and often must wake up at 4AM to set nets. The hard life on the water is all these kids know. . The beauty of Lake Volta juxtaposed with this harsh reality is quite sobering. #journeywithijm (at Ghana)

We spent the whole morning on Lake Volta yesterday and came across countless boats mostly filled with children, many as young as 6. . The trafficking of children and child labor in this region has a lot to do with the complex economic and social history of the Ghanaians residing around the lake. Young children are targeted for fishing because of their mobility and small hands for untangling nets. #journeywithijm (at Volta Region)

Fishing boys of Lake Volta (at Ghana)

San, Mali 2015

Happy 2016! Wishing you all an amazing year of growth, joy, and dream-chasing. Also...@rebeccamarti and I just got a new puppy a couple weeks ago for Christmas. If you're looking for more ridiculous cuteness in your life, follow his new Instagram: @thefrenchho 🐶 Let's be honest, you can never follow too many French Bulldogs on @instagram.

Hope