THIS picture shows a smiling young child – but the story behind her happy eyes is one of a difficult life.

The impressive shot was taken by amateur photographer Vicky Baulcomb, who won first prize in a competition for the picture after securing the most public votes.

The 18-year-old, from Chineham, captured the little girl on camera during a visit to Uganda in July as part of her geography course at Peter Symonds College.

She said: “She had no shoes on. She was only about 3ft tall but she had to carry this jerry can of water back to her home from the water pump.”

Despite the obvious hardships, Vicky said the girl in the picture, along with other children she met during the trip, was always happy and smiling.

She added: “I took the picture walking down the road. I said hello to her and took her photo. She went to the local primary school. It was just that she was such a pretty little girl.”

Vicky, a former pupil at The Vyne School, in Basingstoke, took hundreds of pictures during her trip, using a compact camera, but said this one stood out.

She added: “I couldn’t miss the opportunity.

“I learned so much there. Their perception of necessities is very different – what they have in their lives. Education is so important to them and they want to get a good education.”

Vicky won a £250 Olympus camera – the top prize in the Travel and Leisure Magazine competition – for her picture entitled Infectious Smile, and said she will use it to pursue her hobby.

She added: “I was so shocked to win.

“I had an incredible and memorable time in Uganda working with the villagers and children.

“The children were adorable and I am delighted that the general public liked my submission.”