The children of Mali I encountered were always quite friendly, and flashed me many smiles. No doubt, regardless of how young they might be, they've faced more hardships than I have. Growing up in one of the poorest countries in the world can't be easy. Although, there is perhaps less to envy.

I came across this boy in the Land of the Dogons. The highlight of my trip was to spend a few days exploring this small corner of the world that holds a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through the small villages on foot meant running into curious children left and right.