here's a little artist that might be one of my photography students next summer doing some art.The workshop finally got started last Tuesday. We are going to be doing the workshop with two groups of children, three weeks with each group due to the distance between the different slums and the children’s school schedule. The first group of children is younger, ages 9-12. The second group the children are from 14-17 years of age and we will commence in about two weeks. Both groups live along or on Boeung Kak Lake, a lake that was once so clear and full of marine life is now polluted with garbage and human wastes. Some of the children swim and wash themselves in it.

In the first slum, I was really lucky to have the wife of the village leader to work with. She is one of the volunteers for Indra Devy Association and is herself HIV positive. She gathered all the children for us and because of her reputation as the village leader’s wife, I feel a bit safe having the children out and about with the cameras without worrying too much for their safety or the cameras.
student sharing a photo with a friend.

I had to turn away a handful of children from the photography workshop because they were so young. After I told them I couldn’t work with them, the look of disappointment in their eyes just broke my heart. There was this one orphan in particular that I absolutely adored. He looks so much like one of my nephews when he was that age. He has lost both of his parents to HIV and is now living with his aunt. So to make up for not being able to teach them photography I told them I will teach them art instead. As soon as Chamnab, the program officer translated this to them, their eyes started to light up.

Our second day of the photo workshop and the first day of the art program in the slum was completely like sensory overload for some of the student photographers. They could not decide which one they want to do more: drawing, photography or be each other’s models. I am truly excited about working with them. Their innocence and their sweetness in contrast to their reality is heart wrenching. I love how they say “aw khon” and clasp their little hands together as to say a prayer when I gave them their treats at the end of the day.