These girls adore each other!!! What a fun time.
These girls adore each other!!! What a fun time.
I am back in Ecuador trying to help the kids in the many orphanages that we have formed relationships with. If you have seen past blogs you have a sense of what these kids are facing. Dental issues are a huge problem. This one boy is one of many who needs so much help. We brought toothbrushes for each kid but that can only go so far.
One orphanage was only for children of parents in jail. These kids have had it rough…really rough. It shows on their face, in their walk. We played with them and bought them rice, eggs, pajamas and grains. This hardly makes a dent but it is something.
We are seeing leaking roofs, broken chairs, not enough cribs for new babies that come in, new bathrooms built but without doors. I had a discussion with the director at one of the places. How much to pay for a teacher I wondered. They handed me the spreadsheet of the teachers payroll..It is about 350.00 per month. A new minivan to take the kids to school. 25K. Oh by the way…it is a 15 passenger van that would take about 30 kids..
Today we went shopping for paint, cribs, mattresses, lice shampoo, face cream.
Do you feel better sponcering a child? Do you feel better buying them a mattress? Do you feel better knowing the roof is fixed or a vehicle is going to get them to school? Do you focus on education and want to pay for the salary of one teacher which is about 350 per month.
Are you a foodie and want kids to eat well. Whatever feels the most satisfying…I and they would be so grateful if you donate to the right of this post in the “chip in” link. Thank you so much…in advance.. Go to Facebook for more http://www.facebook.com/rachelelkindphoto
I was in Ecuador earlier this year with the Dando Amor group and was blown away by the generosity of my fellow volunteers and the needs of the kids that are there. I wrote about it on the blog here: past blog post. I am going back because there is more need. Through the money that was initially raised so much was done; beds and food and utensils bought, roofs repaired, walls and sewage systems built, toys given, portraits taken and laminated and given to each kid. There was also time to play with the kids and time to hold the babies. Every step of the way we were met with gratitude as well as the need for more then we could give then. More money has been raised in the past months and I am going back to check on projects, photograph the progress, figure out the best way to spend current funds, find other orphanages that have not been given help and visit with the staff and volunteers that do so much every day to care for the kids. Can you donate here on the link to the right of this blog “Chip In”
Halloween was a blast. Every year I set up in front of Flying Squirrel kids clothing store to photograph all the kids in their adorable costumes The photos, all done on a black fabric don’t reflect the atmosphere around so I thought I would add a few to show how crazy it was there. You can see the before and after.
Wendy wanted to give her parents a gift for their anniversary. Linda and Bill live out of town yet were luckily in for a week. We had the session on a gorgeous day in the upper west side and they had me over for dinner after we had the viewing. They are a super nice family not to mention Linda is a great cook. Oh and Coco the dog…adorable…
A love celebrating a first birthday… or any birthday for that matter. The areas around the studio have alot of graffiti and Dennis had a fun spot in mind. I have had a lot of rain this year and lucky every one was a great sport and let me photograph in a warehouse we stubbled upon while trying to get out of the rain. Those are my favorite images!
Dalila is a beauty and she belly dances too. I love her sense of style in jewelry and how elegant she looked in fabrics. I can’t wait to photograph the baby who just arrived last week.