The Abandoned Project....Part 2

DISCLAIMER: The following does not have any political agenda. This is not a rant or tirade against any organization or individual. At no time is any harm intended against any organization or individual, or to bring any organization or individual into disrepute.For those who are visiting this blog for the first time, and haven't read part 1 of this post, read here first.

If you want to see hi-resolution versions of these pictures, click here

Chef Dulal

It's late Friday morning, going into the afternoon. Most people here would have had a late start to the day, it being the first day of the weekend in this part of the world....planning to go to the beach while they still can before the summer temperatures really hit, or have planned to go to one of the many brunches that this city has on offer with their friends and families, to pay a ridiculous amount of money to be able to gorge themselves on all the delightful offerings, then to go home to their air-conditioned homes and sleep off their indulgences. Sound familiar? I've been guilty of that a few times.

Do we spare a thought for those who don't have what we have? Who we could have fed for a week, for the price of a single meal for one of us us? Whose monthly salary is equivalent to the price of one of these buffet brunches for two people?
Do we spare a thought for those people when we walk to the water cooler to pour a glass of water, open a faucet to have an instant supply of water, open the fridge to have access to food?

Yes? No?

The reason I write this is such. When I arrived at camp a couple of nights ago to take pictures, I had discussed beforehand with the guys that I wanted to photograph them cooking dinner. Especially of Dulal, who is their chef and is a character of note!!
I had a picture in my mind of the images I wanted to take, the light placement, lighting ratios.
The incredible colors of their food being cooked in their pots...

But that night there was no food being cooked. Because there was no water to cook it in. No water to drink, no water to clean and wash up in.
Yep, they don't have the privilege of being able to open a faucet and have running water on tap.
Them, and so many others like them. People right under our noses. People we see and walk past every day, without sparing a thought for them.

For the benefit of the camera only

But amazingly enough, this was the least of their worries. They were more concerned about the well-being of a sick cat they had found. The well-being of an animal was more important to them than the fact they had no water, no food to eat that night. Lesson learned? Putting the needs of others (never mind animals) before your own.

And did they let the fact that they were possibly going to go hungry that night get them down? No way! It just provided them with an excuse to be able to play a game of cricket!
(Note - I've taken my son along with me on the occasions I've been here to photograph, initially to help me lug around equipment, but that ended on the first visit....every time we pitch up, it's a game of cricket! Most of these guys have children back home they haven't seen for years, so for them to interact with a child just makes their day. And for Josh I think it's been a valuable life lesson as well - he's often left the camp with a lump in his throat, and very silent.....I can only hope and pray that he doesn't ever forget this experience or them)

Cricket!

The camp

Through all of this, my hope is that you've become more aware. Aware of the plight of others.
Don't feel sorry for these guys or others like them. Feeling sorry for the under-priviledged doesn't feed them, quench their thirst or put clothes on their backs. Do something about it - please!

You must know someone who needs help. Reach out. Touch their lives. You'll be touching other's lives as well.....
Think about it. One of these gentlemen is a breadwinner, he sends money back home to his family in the country where they live. Perhaps that family is helping another family out who is less fortunate than them. And so it goes. And then the primary source of income dries up. How many lives have been affected?

How many lives can you afffect with an act of kindness?

On the night of taking these pictures, these gents were waiting to hear if jobs that others were trying to arrange for them had come through. I just drove past the camp a while ago, and they were all still there. So it seems nothing has happened yet on the job front yet. Life as they know it carries on...

I pray for that night when I arrive there to take more pictures, only to find the camp deserted. Everyone gone. Every one of them with a roof over their heads, jobs to go to, food to eat, water to drink.
And I know it will happen. I've met the people helping these guys. I know what they are trying to do for them, what sacrifices they make for them.

We were put on this earth to make a difference. Make yours.