Very Young Akha Thai Boy selling Jasmine Garlands

In the city of Chiang Mai, North Thailand are living many Akha hilltribes.
Most of them are very poor.
At nighttime the old Akha women are selling handicrafts,
while the young Akha kids have to sell roses and jasmine garlands.
We met this young Akha Thai boy at the nightlife area at “Chiang Mai Night Bazaar”,
where tourists, expats and Thaipeople meet and have a few drinks together.

This very young boy appeared at about 1.30 AM
and looked very tired.
I asked him, why he don´t go home and sleep.
He said his mother didn´t allow him to go home,
before he sold all the jasmine garlands.
I asked him, if he allow me to take a foto of him.
He smiled and agreed.
Afterwards I bought all his jasmine garlands
and the cute kid promised me to go home and sleep.

What kind of future will this young boy have?
I fear not a good one.
Every night there are hundreds of them running around,
even without shoes.
Child labour is prohibited by law in Thailand,
but if they get caught by the police,
the police take their money and their goods away
and the vicious circle starts again.