The Children Of India £5k orphange fund
The Children of India is more than a photography project but also an inspired mission to raise £5,000 for an orphanage currently being built in Nashik, India.
Whilst on this mission trip I was unsure of what to expect, travelling around the villages and busy cities of western and southern India. I documented key moments with my trusted companion, my Panasonic Lumix GF5 camera.
At many of the places I visited I met enthusiastic, happy, joyful and vibrant children. Full of energy they were eager to greet me.
I quickly realised the easiest way to overcome the language barrier was to use my camera. As soon as I took my camera out, smiles grew larger and most children organised themselves in order to be photographed.
A local pastor told me about 7 children in Nepal who he is financially supporting. One child in particular was found on the street at 5 days old, when she was brought to him, she was close to death. Now she is a healthy 3 year old and attending nursery. I felt compelled to pledge to raise £5,000 to support an orphanage he is building in Nashik, where he plans to bring the 7 orphans from Nepal.
They are not brothers...crazy right?
This child was playing with a hair clip...
Then she realised I was taking a photo of her...
"Mum why isn't this working?"
Initially Blessing was too shy to have her picture taken and was playing "hard to shoot". When we had to leave, she cried.
Despite meeting all of these wonderful children, my attention was never far away from those who were not as blessed as those I had engaged with. Visiting various towns and villages and meeting many children along the way, I was particularly touched by a street child I met on my final night. Realising the fear etched in her eyes as she begged for money, I was struck by the reality of many children in India. This encounter confirmed my desire to make a difference to many others like this girl, and my ambition to support the building of the orphange materialised. Knowing this was something I had no choice in doing I returned to the UK with an even greater desire to return to Nashik with good news and support. I plan to return to India in Spring 2016 to deliver the money personally and to see the progress of the orphange.
To donate please click the link below.