In my photography project in Cameroon, I documented the lives of sand diggers working in the Lobe River near Kribi city. These men dive several meters into the river with a bucket to collect sand, a physically demanding job that only men undertake due to its intensity. One of my portraits features Arnaud, a sand digger who works 2-3 times a week, earning around $15 per day. On other days, he works as a motorbike taxi driver.

The demand for river sand has surged due to construction projects in Douala and the Kribi harbor, as beach sand is unsuitable for building due to its consistency.

However, this work comes at a cost—not only is it physically taxing, but it also causes significant environmental damage. By disrupting the riverbed, sand diggers contribute to the degradation of local biodiversity, illustrating the complex relationship between economic necessity and environmental impact.