Miriam Fekaiki looks through the view-finder to capture a moment in history for all to see and for generations to come.

I left my father’s country as a child in 1979 before returning to the intense battleground of Iraqi Kurdistan in 1992. This was especially emotionally challenging for me as my westernised perspective was rendered out of context and I had to dig deep for my roots.

The children drew me first, may be I saw myself in them back in 1979. I was also fascinated with how their innocence can grow to fierce, brutal and, sometimes, hollow expressions of their adult versions.

Then there was the jolting reality of children labouring to support their adult families while we lazed in the luxury of our homes in London. They struggle to find a living while we live to avoid struggling.  

The struggle of Iraqi children did nothing to dampen their dignity and pride as they posed tall to be framed by my camera.