ATC: Agence Transcongolaise des Communications. The 1997-2000 civil war stopped almost any commercial activity in Brazzaville - capital of the Congo Republic -. The so called ATC, the transportation state company –aviation, railway and navy – went bankrupt. Today, six years later, most of the workers of the ATC navy do not have any regular income. They get paid every five or six months for their current work in the restore of the ATC half sunken boats near the Brazzaville harbour in the Congo river. Some of them live with their families in the best preserved boats and try to survive growing vegetables in the river bank and doing small trade with Kinshasa. Without any help from the government, the ATC workers started to restore the fleete in 2000 with the hope of restarting the trading activity with the North of the country and thus, having a job again. Despite the fact that the ATC may be privatized these people do not have neither technical nor economic means to continue with their task with success.
Ships waiting to be repaired in front of the highest building in town which is now being restored after it was damaged during the war.
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View of the ATC harbour where boats do not longer sail but serve as former workers improvised homes.
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A woman, who earns her living by trading small items from Kinshasa, stands on the deck of the boat where she lives.
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The pirogues are the basic form of transport of people as well as goods in the ATC harbour but they are also used by some people to cross the river to Kinshasa.
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ATC former workers that now contribute on the restoration process of the fleet.
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A worker paints a refloted boat.
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One of the many families that live on the boats because they cannot afford to pay a rent.
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Léger, 16 year-old high school student, reviews a lesson. A flag of President Sassou Nguesso, whose return to Brazzaville led to the last civil war in Congo, adorns his cabin.
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A man passes by a little "boat" shop where a young boy sells small things like cigarettes and biscuits.
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The trading activity in small scale between the two banks of the Congo River (Kinshasa y Brazzaville) is, for many people, their only way to earn an income.
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"Pirogues port", where small businesses (such as food stalls, transport, small trade) take place as a means to survive), though they must always pay a "fee" to the military customs.
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A young man that lives on one of the ATC boats, holds a large marijuana joint in his right hand. Brazzaville, Congo.
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