Photo by Mary
Today began like most days – up at 7:30 a.m., some quick, insubstantial breakfast followed by our brisk 20 minute walk to CASA. After squeezing all our equipment, ourselves and five CASA peer educators into a precariously old van, we took off into the desert again. This time our mission was teaching sustainable, community based agriculture – planting gardens and making “composta” – compost.
The van dropped off Caitlyn, Cameron and Eloise with two CASA workers then continued on. And on and on and on. We literally drove to the end of the road. This is what the end of the road looks like – small brick houses with tin roofs and no windows, rocky, dirt paths and outdoor kitchens with no electricity – a place where goats, pigs and turkeys roam free.
I was, as always, a bit nervous about taking pictures of people in such destitute poverty. When I asked a young girl if I could take her picture, she just gave me a timid smile. So I snapped a couple shots and showed them to her on the small, digital screen. Her face immediately lit up and she asked me to take more pictures with her little brother and sister. Before I knew it, a whole group of children were gathered around me, posing for pictures and begging to see the instant image on my camera.
It was really a photographer’s dream. These kids were so full of personality, spirit and curiosity – eager to touch, see and understand our mysterious equipment. I’ve never brought so much joy to people with my camera as I did to these children today. Even after four hours, they still wanted their picture taken.
Needless to say, I have about 30 pictures of the village and the garden we planted, and over 100 pictures of these children.
They ran after us and waved as we headed back to the van.
- Mary Lide