These kids have ambition

I try to learn from the people I meet, and I hope the people who look at my photographs can learn something, too.

The process of taking a photograph is about understanding where you are and caring for your subject. It's quite emotional. People need to understand why I am here. It's a co-production, in a way.

I feel I have an obligation to people to tell their story the way they want it told. In Africa, people are quite uplifting. No matter what is happening, there is still a sense of positivity. I want this to come through in my pictures.

In Ethiopia, it's difficult for children to get to school because they also have to help their parents. I learned a lot from them. It's quite impressive that although they have obligations outside of school, they make an effort to go. Some have to walk long distances to get there.

This generation has the opportunity to go to school. Education gives them a foundation to build their lives on, and the children are quite ambitious about reaching their goals.

I'm inspired by the things I see and the people I meet. In Ethiopia people don't have the opportunity to discover their talents, and I was impressed and enlightened by fact that these kids had these ambitions.

· Chris de Bode (Dutch) began his career as a professional climbing instructor. This passion for the physical and the extreme is reflected in his challenging photographic assignments worldwide - not least in his long-term fascination with professional cycling races, from Colombia to Senegal.