dear world,
lately , as I've been clearing out hard drive space, I've come across old photo shoots and trips. One of the most amazing summers of my entire life is happening right now but it holds a very far second from my summer in africa.
i traveled alone on 8 flights through europe and deep into africa, my journey began in Lilongwe, Milawi and ended in White River, South Africa with the people of the Masoyi.
The main purpose of my trip was to provide shoes for children who had never had any, we would wash the feet of about 300-600 children a day on our hands and knees and fit them for their first pair.
Many of the children were HIV + , in some villiages the oldest person was a mere 16. They were child run house holds, due to the pandemic, and it was insane to feel those numbers morph into faces. it was and is very real.
these photographs were taken with my first SLR camera, a Digital Rebel with a basic lens and no filter. These have also been sized down so the quality is not up to par with the HD originals.
I would give anything to be back.
These are children lining up in the new shoes...
Aside from shoes, we would share music, and perform mini concerts in the mornings at schools as children arrived.
and of course, documenting the trip. at times it can feel as if you are exploiting something, and its very scary. but at the same time, the photographs were used at benefits and banquets, and i watched as money was sent to help these kids, long after I had returned home.
i remember every face.
One of my photographs ( seen on the left) was then used on the cover of a book, Sole Purpose, written by Manny Ohonme, founder of Samaritan's feel whom i traveled with. It was a huge honor
and finally, I leave you with this, It was on the wall in an abandoned school. Live by the rules, and you will always be ok.
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