Cameras for Asia ran two recent programs in Nepal. One was to the Children’s Welfare Centre and the other to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation. Both are places I have visited before and here are excerpts from the recent report I drafted on these workshops:

Children’s Welfare Centre
A welcome return to the nation of high snow capped mountains, butter lamps, burning incense and dahl bhat was the second part of the Cameras for Asia program this year. Two weeks of classes were held in the Kathmandu valley at Godwari with 14 teenagers from the Children’s Welfare Centre (www.cwcnepal.org). CWC cares for children who are orphaned, socially oppressed, helpless, or abandoned by their parents and society. They come from all over Nepal but CWC becomes their home and spending time here is like becoming part of a family.

Group photo taken by Sajan in the far top left of the photo. We set the camera up on a timer to take this.

This was Cameras for Asia’s second visit to CWC and it was wonderful to see how the children have developed in 12 months. It is always very enjoyable teaching here as not only do they speak English well they’re also a lot of fun. Many of the children are real characters such as Manisha with her three dimples and Manoj who jokes about being the next Prime Minister!

The year’s program included:
–          classes and practice in and around the centre
–          excursions to photograph Losar (Tibetan new year) and Shivaratri (a major Hindu festival), local farming areas, the CWC cattle and more.
–          a competition to make the best poster for CWC – the girls won!
–          and for me only: visiting businesses in the tourist district about putting on an exhibition next year

Some of the girls enjoying lighting lamps for Losar, Tibetan New Year. A fun photographic excursion for all of us!

Prakash enjoying this field of gorgeous flowers.

To consider
Funding is an ongoing problem for CWC (sponsorship is $500/child per annum but any donations are welcome) and as a result they have started dairy cattle farming and also pashmina production (see www.mountpashima.com). If you know of a market for these goods or have a contact please get in touch. Stay tuned for details about any opportunities to buy these products.

Political instability has led to a lack of economic opportunity for young people and many go to work abroad as they see little value in staying in Nepal. We talked about this a bit during classes. When I left I got the kids to write me a note about their families, what they enjoyed in our classes and why and other hopes/dreams. This was one from 12 year old Sajan that warmed my heart.

Excerpt from Sajan.

The day out at Swaymbhunath for Tibetan New Year.

NepalMuscular Dystrophy Foundation, Kathmandu
Another highlight for me in Kathmandu was a return to MDF in Kupandole (www.mdfnepal.org.np). It was wonderful to see two of the boys from last year (and their mothers), meet more MDF clients, catch up with the local staff and the Australian physios visiting from Montrose Access in Queensland.

Me and the gang putting together some photo posters. Photo taken by Hayley.

There were about 10 different photography participants throughout the week, although in reality the classes were at least double in size as each person had an assistant to help them take photos, walk or use a wheelchair. Usually this helper was a family member (although MDF staff and the Aussies helped too) so not only was it nice to get to know the mums, dads and brothers but they seemed to enjoy the photography as well. It’s so great to see how much these children are loved and valued in a country where karma and the idea of past sins punishing you influence people so much.

Junaidalam and his mother.

This year’s program included:
– reviewing the functions of the cameras and teaching some new ones
– a review of macro, action, portrait and landscape photography and explanations about the use of light
– excursions to local shops, a school and the river to make posters for MDF of images we found that started with those letters
– an exhibition at the health camp at the end of the week that attracted families from all over Nepal

Sushant and his mother.

Samriddhi, pictured below is eight years old and has cerebral palsy. It was a rare moment when she didn’t have a smile on her face during the photography classes.

Samridhi always had a smile on her face. Photo by Hayley Coulson.

 Anil, below, a young man of 25 with autism, was another delightful inclusion in classes, helped here by Hayley Coulson from Montrose Access. He relished the opportunity to get out, interact and take photographs and apparently regaled his father all week with stories of the photos he’d taken.

Anil and Hayley in action.

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All images are purchasable through the Visited Planet database. Feel free to email Jo at [email protected] with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com