In the fields of Qosiya city in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt, hundreds of children earn their living by harvesting chilli peppers in the farms overlooking the desert road connecting the centre of Egypt to its central region.

The farm captured in these photos is one of dozens that are located in the area where the peppers’ fluorescent red mixes, against the pure green pastures, dominate the scene.

Early spring is the harvesting season for chilli peppers in Egypt. Workers spend their days, from sunrise to sunset, harvesting the peppers for EGP 50-70 per day.

Most of the harvesters are children who are the bread winners of their families. At first, the crops would hurt their hands and burn their eyes. However, as they spoke to the photographer, most of them admitted that in time, they have gotten used to it, and it no longer affects their health as it used to.

 All photos taken by Ahmed Dream