The sulphur mines of Ijen

Ijen is an active volcano in East Java, where sulphur is still mined by hand from its crater—a practice that has become incredibly rare in the modern world. It is one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. Workers face poisonous gases, treacherous terrain, and the world's most acidic lake to extract the bright yellow sulphur. For their efforts, they earn only a few euros a day, at the cost of their health and often their lives, with an average life expectancy below 50 years.

And yet, despite these unimaginable challenges, the miners take immense pride in their work. Their sacrifices allow them to support their families and ensure that their children can go to school, breaking the cycle so they won’t have to endure the same fate.