rosemary and vincent + helena and jack

This is a great way to end the week!

Hopefully you feel like you know Rosemary and Vincent by now. They were befriended by my pal Anna back in 2009 when she was living and photographing in a small, rural village in southwest Uganda. The two children had no parents and were taking care of their ailing grandmother. Anna contacted me and asked if the children could go live at SMK. The rest is, as they say, history.

This past fall when I was at SMK, Vincent became very ill. You may recall that he had both malaria and pneumonia, and that we had to take him to a nearby clinic for a few days. I was absolutely blown away by the way Rosemary took care of her brother. During that time, I got to know both of them pretty well. I was told by big sis in a hushed but urgent tone that neither had cases for their belongings, no underwear and no school uniforms or shoes.

Remember Helena? She's a young friend of Anna's. She and her little brother Jack decided in 2010 to become best friends and supporters of Rosemary and Vincent. They have been raising money for them ever since. The money helps pay for Rosemary and Vincent's school fees.

And now that money  has gone toward uniforms, shoes, underwear and cases!!

A photo of the the happy siblings arrived in my inbox this morning. Thanks, Melissa, for brightening this gloomy, grey Kansas City morning. And thanks, Helena and Jack, for being the amazing children that you are. I hope one day you'll get to meet your friends from half way around the world. A pizza party would be fun, don't you think?

Rosemary in her village, 2009 (Photo by Anna)

Rosemary and Vincent arrive at SMK, 2009

Helena 

Helena and Jack's collection jar

Rosemary and her friend take care of Vincent in the clinic, September, 2012

Rosemary and Vincent, February 2013