A friend shared something quite special with me this morning.  She sent me a link via Facebook about a non-profit group Born in Brothels.  I was simply fascinated by their mission and the pictures that the children had posted.  There is a corresponding documentary that won an Academy Award so perhaps many have already heard of this group but they were new to me.  I love the idea of taking a passion and turning it into something helpful for those in the greatest need around the world.  I was going to sum up what the group was all about, but decided that their Facebook group description says it better than I ever could so I’ve included it in this blog in its entirety.  I would encourage our readers to learn more about them, visit their site, watch their documentary, and consider what they could do to help the less fortunate in the world.

From Born in Brothels’ Facebook Page:

“In Calcutta’s red light district, over 7,000 women and girls work as prostitutes. Only one group has a lower standing: their children. Zana Briski became involved in the lives of these children in 1998 when she first began photographing prostitutes in Calcutta. Living in the brothels for months at a time, she quickly developed a relationship with many of the kids who, often terrorized and abused, were drawn to the rare human companionship she offered.

Fascinated by her camera, Zana thought it would be great to see the world through their eyes. It was at that moment that she had the idea of teaching photography to the children of prostitutes.

To do so would involve overcoming nearly insurmountable obstacles - brothel owners, pimps, police, local politicians, and organized crime syndicate.

Zana held weekly photography workshops between 2000 and 2003. There the children learned camera basics, lighting, composition, the development of point-of-view, editing, and sequencing for narrative. To Zana’s delight, equipped with inexpensive point-and-shoot 35mm cameras, the children produced incredible work. Their images are explosions of color: self-portraits, family pictures, street scenes, stunning tableaus of Bengali life.

In order to help more children from Calcutta’s red-light district, Kids with Cameras has been raising money to develop a safe home specifically for the children of prostitutes to provide an opportunity for them to learn, thrive and lead future generations.”

To learn more about the group, visit:  http://kids-with-cameras.org

I received my itinerary for a trip I’m taking to Africa in April and I’m so excited.  The opportunity to tag along came up a bit unexpectedly.  There was a group going from my dad’s church in Seattle but they were already filled to capacity.  Then unexpectedly a number of things happened that both opened the way for me to join them and took care of the financial details to make it possible.

So now in only eight weeks I’ll be heading to South Africa on a humanitarian trip.  Given that it’s a high of 20 degrees here in Montana today, that prospect is excited for a few reasons!  We will be visiting both Johannesburg and Cape Town, with opportunities to stay with families in their homes along the way.  Our primary purpose for being there will be to visit the South Africa School for Girls which we support, but also to network and uncover resources there that could help our partners in other parts of the world.  In addition, we hope to learn about the needs of in Africa that our partners around the world can fill.  It’s really always about networking.  Connecting people together to help one another.

This is the same guiding principle behind Divanti International.  It’s really just a large network of trustworthy people helping one another as we bring our dreams to life.  Because I believe human connection is the most important resource we have in this world.  Without the help of others, dreams simply remain dreams, and countries remain in need.  But with the help of others, dreams can become reality, and countries can receive the assistance they need.  It’s all about people and about being honest and helpful.

So I look forward to this trip with great anticipation.  It’s a tremendous opportunity to expand my own horizons and view of the world, to meet other people, and to use what I learn to make Divanti International an even stronger company. And as I prepare to leave, if you’ve been to either location and have any tips for where I should visit and who I should meet, I’d love you to share them with me!  Our itinerary is busy, but there will be time to play, explore, meet, and soak everything in.  I want to make the most of it!