The Mundari of South Sudan is a small ethnic group of roughly 100,000 people. Their life and work revolve around their cows, which are considered their property. Men and boys live in a temporary cattle camp where activities are quite predictable. Leclerc was struck by the children’s hard work, who are involved and often responsible for most tasks in and around the camp. Watching them reminded her of a quote from one of Barbara Kingsolver’s books: “In Congo, there are only two ages of people: babies that have to be carried, and people that stand up and defend themselves. No in-between phases. No such thing as childhood.”
