"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera." - Dorothea Lange

Sunday, May 19, 2013

sponsored student: scovia

Change the Truth is now proudly sponsoring 32 students. Of those, 18 have specific sponsors (donors who have asked to be connected with one child in particular). Often, these connections grow out of relationships that are formed during team trips to the orphanage. Sometimes I simply match a donor with a prospective student, based on things like personality and interests.

Once a donor becomes a sponsor to a specific child, letters and pictures are exchanged. CTT provides the sponsor with grade cards each term, as well as written updates from the student. Some of these relationships have been going on now for three or four years! The sponsored student almost always ends up feeling like a son or daughter to the sponsor. A special bond is formed.




Atim Proscovia is one of those students who has a specific family sponsor. Here is her story:

Scovia is 14 years old. She is currently a Senior 2 secondary student attending Baptist High School.  She came to SMK in Primary 2 after her parents were killed by rebel soldiers in the civil war in northern Uganda.  In her free time, Scovia enjoys singing, dancing and hanging out with friends.  During school holidays at SMK, she participates in Choir and Traditional Ugandan Dance/Drumming.   Scovia hopes to become an accountant.  She also has dreams of building her own school for Ugandan orphans. She treasures her sponsors, Jennifer and Jeff, whom she met when they traveled on their own last summer to volunteer at the orphanage (after having been members of Team 4). Scovia considers them to be part of her family now, and Jennifer and Jeff feel the same way about her. With their continued assistance and a lot of hard work in school, Scovia's future will only look brighter and brighter.



Friday, May 17, 2013

a kitchen remodeled

The kitchen at St. Mary Kevin's used to be a smokin' place to hang out in.

Literally!

It was actually one of my favorite places to photograph. The smoke that rose up from the pots, combined with the smoke from the burning wood below made for some powerful visuals. But, after three or four minutes in there, I would have to run outside for a gasp of clean air... tears streaming down my face from the sting of the smoke. I never could figure out how the cooks and the kids stayed in the there for so long. With the smoke and the risk of burns, it was a place in need of help.

Now, thanks to Change the Truth donors, the kitchen has been transformed. It is a smoke-free place that is safer and much more efficient.

Little by little, the truth is changing for our beloved children. The truth is now, they have a safe, clean place to go to get their meals.


Old kitchen - the children line up to get their porridge

Old kitchen - the cooking pits


New kitchen - the smoke is diverted up and out of the building


New kitchen - spiffy new cooking pots




New kitchen - the children line up for food. What a difference!


Monday, May 13, 2013

opening reception

Here are more of Steve Wilson's fabulous shots from the opening at the Bohemian Gallery this past Friday night. Tomorrow I'll post his installation shots.