Valerie
Valerie (18)
I had to carry the cocoa pods in a large basket on my head. I don’t know exactly how many kilos each load weighed, but it hurt my neck and shoulders.
Valerie
When I think of my brothers and sisters who are still working on the plantations in the Ivory Coast, I get very sad. I think about all the things that could happen to them.
Valerie
That’s why I want to become a really good tailor and earn as much money as possible. I’ll use that money to get all of my brothers and sisters off the plantations.

Valerie (18)
13 Oct - 22 Nov 2017
Beurs van Berlage
Amsterdam
Who are the children who harvest the cocoa for our chocolate in West Africa? What was their life like? What dreams about the future do they cherish? Fifteen of them tell their stories in this exhibition.

For every ticket of the exhibition or copy of the book sold, a contribution will be made to GRADE-FRB’s rehabilitation shelter for former child labourers.
Bitter Chocolate Stories is a Paradox production in collaboration with: Joana Choumali (photography), Marijn Heemskerk (texts), GRADE-FRB and Tony’s Chocolonely. Design: Kummer & Herrman.