PROSTITUTION FOR $2
Prostitution in Ethiopia has increased massively in the last years. In the capital Addis Ababa, around 130,000 girls support themselves by selling their bodies. Most of the girls are under eighteen, many as young as fourteen. The youngest girls hardly earn enough money to buy their own food, whilst the experienced prostitutes make about two US dollars a night. Condoms, although free in many places, are rarely used. Men prefer to choose the youngest girls since they believe they are HIV free. This keeps lowering the age of those becoming HIV infected.
Imet these girls in Addis Ababa andstarted photographing them. Since many girls don’t have a home they take naps in between pleasing their customers and their days are spent at a hairdressing salon, drinking coffee, sharing their food and sleeping in turns in the back of the shop.
Kesela Mana and Fatuma back in the hairdresser where they live after a night of work.
Mareya smoking. Her story is very sad. She moved to the capital when she was 14 and started working as a prostitute.Without her income the family can not survive, so she sends most of the money that she earns. The family thinks she is married to a rich man and keep demanding more and more money from her every month.
At the hairdresser in wich they spend the days .They cook, share their food with each other and take little naps in the back of the shop.
Fatuma gets a phone call from a client. She has to meet him in an hour.
Getting ready for going to work.
Coming out from the hotel where they have met their first clients today.
Elsabet is only 15 and this is the first time she is selling her body. This German client is paying her $50 for an entire month having unprotected sex with her.