Images Connect is an international photo project by photographer Henny Boogert that explores the similarities and differences between the places students call “home” around the world.
Boogert believes that all students worldwide share the same goals: to move forward and establish a career. Their housing — be it a room, an apartment, a dorm or a hut — is as universal as those goals, and the Images Connect project aims to highlight that universality.
He visited 10 countries to capture all of his images: Kenya, Russia, Moldova, Cuba, Bolivia, the Philippines, India, Hong Kong, Italy and his home country of the Netherlands. And even though he chose such a diverse selection of countries, he found much the same thing everywhere he went. “A bed, a small seating area, some posters on the wall and clutter on the ground,” a representation of those goals and, in some cases, the sacrifices required to reach them.
In terms of composition there is room for improvement, but the result is, nevertheless, an interesting insight into students’ lives across many cultures.
Kenya, Africa
42 million inhabitants
Literacy: 85%
Following higher education: 3%
State universities: 7
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: 1.300 euro / 1.700 US Dollar
Life expectancy at birth: 59 years
After foreign pressure to reach the UN Millennium Goals the government of Kenya introduced, in 2003, free education in primary schools. There is however not enough money to build schools and pay teachers. Classes are overcrowded and quality is poor.
At: Nairobi University
At: Nairobi University
At: Kenyan College of Accountancy University
At: Kenyatta University
At: Nairobi University
Cuba, Central America
11 million inhabitants
Literacy: 99,8%
Following higher education: unknown
State universities: 57
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: free education
GDP per capita: 7.500 Euro / 9.900 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 78 years
Education is free, from nursery school through university. Students are more likely to study when they prove they are faithful “to the goals of Cuba” and show loyalty to the Communist Party. This is registered from the first day a pupil comes to primary school. There is no guarantee of a career after finishing education. There are university educated Cubans that work as cleaners.
At: University Marta Abreu of Las Villas
At: University of Havana
At: Universidad del diseo
At: University Marta Abreu of Las Villas
India, Asia
1,166 billion inhabitants
Literacy: 61%
Following higher education: 7%
State universities: 317
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: unknown
GDP per capita: 2.750 Euro / 3.500 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 66,8 years
India is a rising star in world economy and innovations. However, despite growing investment in education India’s universities face serious problems. Prime minister Manmohan Sing, stated in 2008: “Our university system is in a state of disrepair. In almost half the districts in the country, higher education enrollments are abysmally (incredibly) low, almost two-thirds of our universities and 90 per cent of our colleges are rated as below average on quality parameters. There are complaints of favoritism and corruption.”
At: Sir J.J.College of Architecture
At: Dr. D.Y. Patil University
At: Rizvi college
At: Tata institute of Social Sciences
At: Sir J. J. College of Architecture
At: Tata institute of Social Sciences
At: Mumbai University (F.Y.B. Com)
The Netherlands, Europe
16,7 million inhabitants
Literacy: 99%
Following higher education: 40%
State universities: 14
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: 1.750 euro / 2.220 US dollars
GDP per capita: 31.700 euro / 40.300 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 79 years
Students pay a tuition fee, but at the same time receive a grant from the government. Part of the grant is equally high for all students, but youngsters from poor families are entitled to some extra money. The first four years of their study the money can be seen as a gift. During the other years of the study the grant turns into a loan. Recent research shows that it takes decades, before the students pay back the loan, and the debt produces problems when they want to buy a house or apply for a mortgage.
At: State University Groningen (RUG)
The Philippines, Asia
101 million inhabitants
Literacy: 92,6%
Following higher education: unknown
State universities: 57
Tuition for 1 year at state university: from 750 Euro / 950 US Dollars
GDP per capita: 2.700 Euro / 3.500 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 71 years
Roughly 27% of Filippino’s don’t have a primary education, although it�s free. The reason for this is a lack of school buildings in rural areas and because lessons are given in English while the children speak another language at home. Still the illiteracy level is low, according to official government figures: children learn from parents and friends. College is only attainable for the elite and for children with parents who are willing to make sacrifices.
At: Technical University
19 years old, Manilla, Philippines
At: Benigno (Ninoy) Aquino High School
Russia, Europe
138,7 million inhabitants
Literacy: 99,4
Following higher education: 52%
State universities: 665
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: unknown
GDP per capita: 12.450 Euro /15.900 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 66,2 years
Russia has a worrying high amount of universities. On top of the 665 state owned universities there are 450 private civilian university-level institutions licensed by the Ministry of Education, with over 625.000 faculties. In 2008 president Dmitry Medvedev said: “This amount does not exist anywhere else in the world; it may be over the top even for China. The consequences are clear: devaluation of education standards.”
At: Sholokhov Moscow State University for the Humanities
At: Moskow State University
Hong Kong, Asia
7,3 million inhabitants
Literacy: 93,5%
Following higher education: 65%
State universities: 8
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: around HK,000- 50,000(4000-8000€) a year
GDP per capita: 38.675 Euro / 49,990 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 83 years
Bosco Kuo Ko Wai, 24 years old, bachelor of engineering 3the year(logistics engeneering& supply chain management, university of Hong KongSuen Chi Sun Hall, wants to be a professor in university. spent two years in hall. Starts to miss that place as i allways know that the society is a cruel place that i need to struggle and fight for.
Eric Ng Chung Wing, 19 years old, bachelor of engineering 1st year, university of Hong Kong, Suen Chi Sun Hall,want to design a plane in the future. Quote:’HKU is a place that helps me grow up. I enjoy studying in HKU’. ”
At: University of Hong Kong Suen Chi Hall
Angel: I love the hall live in Hong Kong. It is free and full of surprises! I would like to be a teacher or a writer in the future, haha. Don’t know if these dreams will come true or not! ”
At: University of Hong Kong Suen Chi Hall
Bolivia, South America
10,1 million inhabitants
Literacy: 86,7%
Following higher education: unknown
State universities: 10
Tuition fee for 1 year at state university: 700 Euro/890 US Dollars
GDP per capita: 3.750 Euro / 4.800 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 67,5 years
Under a law passed in December 2010, all schoolchildren in Bolivia must learn Quechua, Aymara or some other indigenous language, as well as Spanish and a foreign language. The country, according to president Morales, should respect and embrace local cultures and indigenous people. To prove that he is serious about this issue, Morales also ordered the construction of three new universities, specifically for indigenous students in rural areas. The indigenous inhabitants of Bolivia voted him into the presidential office.
At: Universidad Mayor de San Simón
At: Universidad mayor de San Simon
At: Art cademy of Naples
I hope to live on my own after finishing my studies. ”
At: University Naples Federico 2, third year
I rent my room for €300 per month per month. My parents pay for the room and studies. I’ve been living in this room since May 2011. It is a very comfortable room. Its is large enough for me and my stuff. ”
Moldova, Europe
4,1 million inhabitants
Literacy: 99,1%
Following higher education: unknown
State universities: 16
Tuition for 1 year at state university: 430 Euro / 550 US Dollars
GDP per capita: 1.950 Euro / 2.500 US Dollars
Life expectancy at birth: 71,3 years
Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, yet the country
has the highest European ranking when it comes to expenditures on education: 9,6% of GDP. Only 6 countries in the world have a higher percentage, including Lesotho, Cuba and the Maldives. This money didn�t help any of their colleges into the list of 700 best universities. Nevertheless the number of students per 10,000 inhabitants in Moldova has been constantly growing since the collapse of the Soviet Union, reaching 217 in 2000-2001, and 351 in 2005-2006.
At: State Medical and Pharmaceutical University Nicolae Testemitanu
Part II coming soon! (: |
wow. thats so good of you. i mean, how did you manage all that? soo wonderful
Hi. These are not my photos, it’s just a series I liked and decided to post. The photographer is Henry Boogert.