Ghetto Children and Their Dreams: Shocking Footage from Trebišov

Photos can tell stories that are difficult to convey in words. Manuela Federl, a talented photographer, captured life in a Roma ghetto in Slovakia, showing a world full of contrasts, emotions and hidden beauty. Her pictures from Trebišov, one of the largest Roma settlements in Europe, open the curtain on a life that many people prefer not to think about. This article will immerse you in the atmosphere of her work and tell you why it touches your hearts so much.

Trebišov is a small town in eastern Slovakia, but its Roma ghetto is famous far beyond the country’s borders. Around 7,000 people live here, among ramshackle barracks and shabby apartment blocks. Living conditions are harsh: there is no stable work, access to education or hope for change. Manuela Federl didn’t just photograph the houses and streets – she managed to capture the spirit of the place.

The barracks and dilapidated houses have no sewage system, showers, toilets or kitchens, and a single well serves as a source of water for all residents. Roma, who make up about 10% of Slovakia’s population (approximately 450,000 people), face discrimination from childhood.

According to a 2022 EU study, two-thirds of Roma children attend segregated schools where the curriculum is so backward that in nine years they master material that other students cover in four.

Manuela’s photographs show how people adapt to adversity. One shot shows children playing among rubbish, another shows a woman carrying water in a plastic canister. These images do not judge, but make you wonder: what is it like to live in a place where every day is a struggle for survival?

Manuela Federl is not just a photographer, but a multifaceted storyteller whose career spans journalism, documentary filmmaking, and photo documentary. She studied languages, economics, and cultural studies at the University of Passau in Germany and the University of Concepción in Chile, where she wrote a thesis on the Mapuche people, later published as a book.

Manuela worked as a journalist for over 15 years, including five years at a private TV station, before founding her own company, bergjournalisten, in 2016. Since then, she has been creating documentaries and reports for TV and film, travelling the world in search of stories that deserve to be heard.

Manuela Federl is a photographer who finds poetry in the mundane. Her work on the Roma ghetto in Slovakia is not just a reportage, but a profound exploration of the human soul. She does not aim to shock the viewer, although the reality of Trebišov is impressive in itself. Instead, Manuela focuses on people: their emotions, dreams and resilience.

In one of the images, the girls look directly into the camera, their eyes full of hope despite the poverty that surrounds them. This contrast—between harsh reality and inner strength—is what makes Federl’s photographs so memorable. She shows that even in the ghetto, there is beauty if you know how to see it.

The Roma ghetto in Trebišov is a place where social problems and human destinies collide. According to Slovak authorities, almost half of the locals are unemployed. Many earn extra money through odd jobs, but this does not bring stability. Young people often face addiction, and the lack of education closes the circle of poverty.

Young Roma women often become mothers before they reach adulthood, are deprived of the opportunity to receive secondary education, and rarely leave the ghetto. Their life is a struggle for survival in conditions where 48% of Roma remain unemployed and the average life expectancy is ten years shorter than that of other Slovaks.

Manuela Federl does not shy away from these problems. Her photographs show destroyed houses, crowded courtyards and tired faces. But she also captures moments of joy: children’s laughter, warm family scenes, bright colors of clothes. It is a reminder that life goes on, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Federl's photographs are not staged shots, but moments captured from life. She avoids directing, allowing her subjects to relax and forget about the camera to capture their authentic emotions. In an interview, Manuela emphasizes:

It is this honesty that makes the photographs so powerful: they contain pain, pride, and sparks of hope.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries and published in the media, sparking heated discussions. It reminds us that photography is not just about aesthetics, but also a powerful tool for change. Each frame is a call for empathy and understanding.

Manuela Federl’s photographs leave a mixed feeling. On the one hand, they show the harsh reality of the Roma ghetto in Slovakia. On the other, they give hope that change is possible. Roma settlements in Slovakia, such as Trebišov, remain on the periphery of public consciousness. Federl’s photographs make us think about discrimination, inequality, and how society can help those trapped by circumstances.

These images are not just pictures, but stories waiting to be heard. They teach us to see not only poverty, but also the strength of spirit that helps people move forward, no matter what.