Belleville, a backward neighbourhood in Paris. No ghettoisation, like in the infamous banlieus around the city. Belleville is very much part of the city of light and has strong ties with the liveliness of Paris. For ages it has been a working class neighbourhood with a large Jewish community. Now it’s mostly immigrants from Africa and China that live there. Unemployment and poverty are high, the houses small and run-down. The children of Belleville who become homeless don’t do so for long. Social monitoring by aid organisations is widespread, particularly where children are concerned. Organisations such as the Centre Sociale Elisabeth, located on the busy market street in the heart of the neighbourhood, help families with their problems. The centre has set up a thousand and one activities for the children. They can go there to talk about their experiences in school, get help with their homework. Or have a nice drum-session or take a dancing class. Hiphop is very popular. The thirteen year old Oumar came from Côte d’Ivoire six months ago. In the beginning he experienced a big culture shock. From the vast countryside, all of a sudden to be amid the roaring traffic of a metropolis. Oumar and his many brothers now live in a small appartment. He wants to be a football player later. ‘Just like Zidane.’

Asmahane’s parents are from the Comoro Islands, but she herself was born in Paris. And that means something in Belleville. Because those who are born in Paris are one up on the others. Asmahane dances hiphop with her friends and thinks about becoming a teacher. Belleville has never become a ghetto and the children don’t think of themselves as difficult cases. Most of them say: ‘Life is what it is.’ But problems still arise at a later age, according to the aid workers of the Centre Sociale. For the time being that is not on the agenda for Norredine. He came to Belleville from Algeria eight months ago. “I would like to become a fireman later,” he says proudly. Norredine doesn’t have any friends who were born in Paris. When he is not in school, he likes to walk around town with his little sister. He is thrilled about the Home/Life photo project. He takes many photos of buildings, of the Sacré Coeur and of the window of a gun shop, but he likes taking pictures of rocks best. “I love rocks.” The parents of Bakou come from Mali. He dreams of living there. “I don’t have to become president. Or judge. I’d rather become an interviewer. I love asking questions.”