Comments on: Village Life

By: Aimee’s Blog » Blog Archive » Clothing challenge, part 2

Aimee’s Blog » Blog Archive » Clothing challenge, part 2 — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 14:44:10 +0000

[...] First of all, it’s amazing to me that I can choose to go a year without buying anything new. Many people don’t have that option. There are those that are lucky just to have enough food to eat and a warm place to sleep at night (just read Kelli’s blog if you want proof). It’s an extremely humbling thought. [...]

By: Nikki

Nikki — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:44:17 +0000

Oh my, this is tough to take. The plight in Africa has been on my heart for a while. As a mother, I feel for those mothers and the children. I feel helpless as well. I’m looking for small ways to help, because I think if we all do something small it will become something big. The MCC (Menonite Central Committee) does a lot of work in these areas. If you visit their website, they have instructions for making AIDS kits to send to Africa that include essentials for victims of the disease. They also include instructions to make a drawstring bag to put all of the items in. I’m planning to take this to my neighborhood and see how many kits we can get together in July.

Keep up the good work. I’m living vicariously through you.

Are you still accepting goodie bags for the trip to Bolivia?

By: jessica

jessica — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 00:27:19 +0000

oh kelli that last picture just broke my heart.
you could see how hungry she is and would anything. i’m sure you wished you had protein bars for all of them.

By: Ali la Loca

Ali la Loca — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 17:36:11 +0000

Hi Kelli,

First, a big congratulations and thanks to you and the people that helped you put together the gift baggies. I’m sure that was a gesture that will be remembered for a long time by the recipients of those goodies.

I’m encouraged to hear that Malaria and Cholera prevention practices are going well in the rural areas where you work. As for HIV, it is extraordinarily complex, as you stated, and I personally don’t think there will be much positive change in the current and next generations. I’m glad there are more hopeful people out there doing field work, such as yourself.

What this post really made me consider, though, has to do with another complicated situation – posting photos of people on the internet, in particular people that are in precarious positions in terms of their health or their economic status.

On the one hand, posting photos such as these has the potential to raise awareness among the people that read blogs, look at Flickr or have other access to the images. I see the benefit in this; the photos are certainly compelling, and I know that they can be a powerful tool in bringing about human compassion.

However, I can also see the other side. Did these people give their permission for their photos to be on the internet? In particular, was the woman who is HIV positive and in effect on her deathbead okay with the idea that she would be outed on the internet and shown along with her malnourished child? Chances are, the subjects of these photos will never even see your blog or know that they were on the internet, but that is beside the point.

I know that your work and any photos you may have posted here are done with great respect and only the best intentions. I am not singling out your blog or your photos – they were just what spurred me to think about this.

What is the best way to show photos and raise awareness while respecting the privacy and rights of the subjects being photographed? What is the line between awareness and exploitation?

By: Rachael

Rachael — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 08:36:13 +0000

It’s heartbreaking that HIV/AIDS continues to decimate such a huge portion of the population. At least you are doing something about it. And educating me and helping me to open my eyes just a little more. You should also take great pride in the programs that are working to educate about and reduce/eliminate cholera and malaria. That face – adorable and heart wrenching all at once.

By: rohanknitter

rohanknitter — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 03:06:33 +0000

I’ve read statistics about HIV in Africa that are just heartbreaking. It must be encouraging to find that at least part of the health projects are working. It’s so inspiring to read about anyone making an effort to help these people. Again, thank you for sharing.

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:31:25 +0000

Kelli,

While you were gone my church had a graduation service with a blessing that spoke so much of what you have said in these Moz posts. It’s on my blog, anyway, your message and determination is so powerful and inspiring. Thanks so much for giving us a window to it all.

By: Grace

Grace — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:51:36 +0000

you’re the latest addition to my many role models….
thank you for sharing your experiences with me. you’re teaching me things i just can’t get from books. the pictures help as well, i am a very visual learner even though i enjoy reading. it always amazes me that the most beautiful people live in the poorest areas in so many respects.

By: meg

meg — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:45:23 +0000

Your work is absolutely fascinating to me; I really appreciate you sharing so much of what you see. The fact that you were able to see progress with at least 2 of the issues must be really encouraging, despite the heartbreak that goes with the HIV epidemic. Such important work you’re doing!

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 20:27:36 +0000

People are always many pronged in the their lifestyles. You’d think with HIV decimating so much of Africa the other countries would figure out that it doesn’t stop at a border and do something here as well as there. But, as you so wisely point out, it will take a many pronged approach. Do we have the time, the will and will we even try. Humanity is seems is on trial.