Humanitarian photo exhibit captures the dreams of children across crisis zones
“One day I’m going to be a cool firefighter, like my papa! He helps people when they need him, and I want to do the same.”
These are the words of seven-year-old Mako from Japan’s Noto Peninsula – an area struck by a devastating 7.6-magnitude earthquake and flooding in 2024.
“I was here during the earthquake, and it was scary. I didn’t understand what was happening, and everyone around me was afraid,” Mako told French photographer Vincent Tremeau. “But when I saw my papa and the other firefighters helping, I felt better. Even though they were busy, they took care of everyone.”
Mako’s story is one of many featured in One Day, I Will, a powerful exhibition of photographs taken by Tremeau that capture the dreams and resilience of children living through crisis. Hosted by OCHA, the exhibition is taking place in the UN Pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, from 2 – 10 July. It is supported by the Japanese company Kumon Institute of Education (KUMON) and the UN Department of Global Communications.
The exhibition features portraits of children from Honduras, Japan, Sierra Leone and beyond. For more than a decade, Tremeau has travelled to more than 20 countries affected by conflict and disasters, asking children a simple question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Using only locally available materials, the children dress up to represent their aspirations, expressing their imagination and creativity in the face of hardship.
“One Day, I Will is about giving voice to a category of people that is usually voiceless: the children,” said Tremeau. “Children are often not listened to, yet they are the future. They are the ones with wild imaginations who will come up with solutions to make our world a better place.”
Children affected by earthquake and floods
With KUMON’s support, Tremeau travelled to Noto Peninsula earlier this year to photograph children affected by the earthquake and floods. Their portraits now stand alongside those of children from other crisis-affected countries, highlighting the shared humanity and vulnerability to climate-related disasters and the collectiveness of children’s hopes.
“I love helping people, and I’ve been doing that for a while now,” said eight-year-old Hibiki, who wants to become a volunteer. “Last year, after the big flood, I helped clean up the mud with my close friends.”
The portraits also feature a teenager who wants to build homes strong enough to withstand natural hazards, and others who want to be artists, football players or ice cream makers.
“We believe that giving children a voice – especially those in vulnerable situations – is central to humanitarian work,” said Tom Fletcher, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. “Through this exhibition, we hope to convey the hopes and potential of children worldwide.”
With more than 2,000 visitors passing through the UN Pavilion daily, the exhibition also serves as a call to action. Visitors are encouraged to support the global humanitarian response, particularly through the OCHA-managed UN Central Emergency Response Fund, which helps deliver life-saving aid where it's needed most.
As the world dreams of a better tomorrow, this exhibition challenges people to reflect on the kind of future they want to collectively design, and whether they can live up to the next generation’s dreams.