"Blessed Ground" is an on-going photographic essay about the consequences of international gold mining projects in the vicinity of rural communities along the shores of the rivers Púnguè and Revué, in Mozambique.

Having seen their lands rendered barren by the excavation processes, the community turned to artisanal gold mining, panning among the sediments left behind by these companies. This shift has transformed the community's livelihood, now reliant on money rather than agriculture, despite the lack of job opportunities and the companies neglect to provide restitution to the communities they impact.
Their presence not only exacerbates existing poverty in the region but it’s also weakening its social fabric, contributing to problems such as alcoholism and increasing the vulnerability of women to gender-based violence and prostitution.

Unsupervised and unbeknownst to many, both wildcat miners and, reportedly, some companies too, employ extremely dangerous chemicals such as mercury and cyanide to extract gold without proper precautions for themselves or the environment.
These substances are often discarded into water sources, leading to the contamination of food crops, livestock, and fish in the rivers.
The occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases in children in the region, traditionally attributed to sorcery or other esoteric reasons, could instead suggest a recurring exposure to hazardous contaminants and heavy metals.

Ultimately, by establishing opaque agreements between politicians and the companies, while turning a blind eye to the consequences of expelling farmers from their lands and abandoning them to their fate, many feel the government is condemning both current and future generations to an uncertain and risky future, jeopardizing the lives of many.

According to the United Nations, artisanal small-scale gold mining employ an estimate 15 million people worldwide, including 4 to 5 million women and children, often in remote rural areas with limited economic opportunities. The sector produces around 12 to 15% of the world’s gold, and is responsible for 35% of all mercury pollution to the environment.