Eyes on Life: Empowering Youth in South America

Photography Program Captures the Youthful Spirit of Peru

(from April 2009)

I am 2700 meters above sea level, trying to catch my breath. I am gasping not only because of the altitude but also because of the beauty of the Andes that surround Cajamarca in Northern Peru.

I am here to teach kids about photography and I have mixed feelings. First of all I do not speak Spanish, and secondly, I have never done anything like this in my life, ever. So, I am excited and scared.

Why would I do such a crazy thing? Inject myself into a remote culture so far removed from my own roots? And one of the poorest places in Peru? Well, I have always dreamed of visiting South America and I thought this would be a meaningful way to do it all; teach and inspire kids, learn Spanish, experience another culture, connect with like-minded people, and have fun too.

I arrive in Peru, armed with 15 digital cameras, extra batteries and accessories, all donated by friends and family and delighted to be very far away from the blustery Canadian winter of 2009.

In 2008 I designed a program called “Eyes on Life” a Photography Program that empowers youth and gives them an outlet for self-expression. Using photography to capture the imaginations of children, build their confidence and self esteem was a challenge I could embrace after much planning.

For the next 8 weeks my home will be “Incawasi” a non-profit organization located in the centre of Cajamarca, a very Spanish, colourful, bustling colonial city of 150,000 off the beaten tourist path. Incawasi consists of about 40 young and vibrant kids from disadvantaged areas between 13-17 years old. Some of the kids walk down from the hills, which takes hours a day to get to the school, rapidly wearing out their shoes. Children spend every day here learning through the various activities that the international volunteers organize. The school also feeds the children daily and as I found out for most of them, this is their only real meal each day.

I take the kids out on location with the cameras and they are instantly photographers, snapping at everything they can; eating up batteries like there's no tomorrow, asking questions and showing me their creations, “mira prof, mira!” one kid says (look professor, look!) I've never been called a professor before, but I am starting to like it.

I've never seen kids so happy. They snap photos of everything; the vast panorama of their sprawling city with the Andes flowing in the distance, the abundant fruits at the markets, prominent statues, the street parades that come out of nowhere, beautiful gardens, impressive Cathedrals, and mangy stray dogs.

I am starting to worry as with their fresh eyes and perspective they are taking better photos than me! But it is the photos they capture of themselves that really have a lasting impression; simple and innocent, a snapshot of their life and existence in an extreme environment.

Although I teach the kids the rules about photography; composition and how to frame their photos, the power of colour, the use of texture and repetition, they quickly realize that rules are meant to be broken. Their most powerful and interesting photos are the ones that stray from the norm and smash all the traditional rules that bind creativity in.

I was lucky enough to also teach at the Bill Gates School in Santa Barbara, Peru. The kids here are so eager, so full of life and love and willingness to learn that it inspires me to be in their presence. I was so happy to help them find their voice, to help them realize that they have something worth communicating and to believe in.

At times I had to remind myself; these kids live in one of the most harsh and unforgiving regions in Peru where 65% of people are surviving in extreme poverty. Their struggles were evident; hunger, oppression, disease, social inequalities, and lack of quality education, things that we in Canada take for granted. Some of the young kids even work all night on the streets to support their families.

The day I left Peru the kids sang Spanish songs, they made me beautiful cards (written in Spanish!) and we celebrated by dancing into the crisp Andean night around a warm fire, as time stood still.

Even though there was a language barrier, our connection was epic. In the end it wasn't even about photography, it was about something bigger; it was about human connection and I embraced it all. My message to my students was clear; “It doesn't matter what your situation is, if you can dream it you can do it”.

Team Canada Shoots for Success in Haiti

Healing Hands of Hope for Earthquake Survivors

"5 days ago Sony couldn't walk. He's now my success story."

These are profound words from Dorothy Drost, but when you witness first-hand the miraculous outcome the Physiotherapist from Canada has accomplished with her patient Sony, words just can't explain the little miracles that are happening in Haiti. 12 year-old Sony was a victim of the January 12, 2010 earthquake. 60 seconds of terror and his life was shattered as his little body was trapped in the rubble for 3 days. Finding care for Sony in the aftermath of the disaster was a nightmare: he was transported from place to place because nobody knew how to treat his injuries.

Today he is walking on his own, with a little help from Dorothy.

And this was the case with many other spinal cord injuries in Haiti, at least 100 others according to the Director of St. Boniface Hospital, Conor Shapiro. "Our little hospital in Fond des Blancs suddenly became known for treating and rehabilitating spinal cord injuries, because there was no other place for them to go." he says. "We had an enormous task at hand to help treat and rehabilitate these people."

The small hospital in rural Haiti is treating about 20 of the specialized cases, which has taken a serious toll on it's resources.

Three months after the quake enter Team Canada.

Team Canada Healing Hands has been working in Haiti since 2005, mostly providing teams of experts to support rehab initiatives in the capital Port-au-Prince. Working with children in Orphanages, the non-profit organization (NGO) makes and supplies prosthetic limbs and teaches well being and good nutrition not just for kids with disabilities, but the general population as well. Healing Hands sends teams to Haiti that includes physicians, pediatricians, family doctors, orthopedic surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists among others. Though their clinic in Port-au-Prince was destroyed in the earthquake, a new Prosthetic & Orthotic clinic has already been set up with help from Handicap International, and is being run by local staff and expatriates. As their presence in Haiti remains strong, the new relationship with St. Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs has also given Healing Hands an excellent opportunity in which more people will benefit.

For this week-long mission at St. Boniface Hospital, 5 professional women from Healing Hands focussed on rehabilitation, self care and training the staff and families on how to deal with spinal cord injuries. The team has come together with their expertise, collaborated and integrated with the staff at St. Boniface Hospital.

"It was a perfect-fit in a time of desperate need" explains Hospital Director Conor Shapiro.

Occupational Therapist Patti Byrne, one of the members of Team Canada explains the situation they faced at St. Boniface "Spinal cord injuries are very difficult to care for and the support that these patients need are enormous. A lot of teaching needs to be done, not just with treatments, but how to get patients mobile and ultimately live as independently as possible. In a place where there is no training for physiotherapists, occupational therapists or rehabilitation, Haiti needs all the help it can get, especially now. Even before the earthquake there were no inpatient rehabilitation units to be found in the country."

Life goes on after the earthquake, and many of the victims face a future of uncertainty. "It's difficult to see how helpless they are, but we can bring our resources and expertise and teach them how to cope as best as possible. Many of them thought we were here to make them walk again. There is always hope, but at this point the reality is most will live the rest of their lives as paraplegics."

The main task at hand is finding wheelchairs for those who are ready to be discharged. Team Canada has been busy measuring the patients and coordinating the delivery of the tailor-made wheelchairs. Special wheels and suspension are needed that will allow for the rugged terrain of rural Haiti with unique padding on the seat that decreases pressure sores on the body. Most importantly, these wheelchairs will help them become mobile and allow them to transfer themselves to their beds all on their own.

And encouraging these patients to become independent is what it's all about.

"It's not all easy" Patti says. Her 22 year-old patient Personna is having a difficult time adjusting to his new reality after losing his family and becoming a paraplegic. "When I was helping him into his bed, I noticed he had no clean clothes, so I washed them. When I gave him his clean laundry the smile on his face was priceless."

These days in Haiti it's the simple things that are appreciated.

"One of the most depressing aspects of it all is you know that everyone in the country is struggling" Patti admits. "But it's amazing to see how people are engaging and families are coming together with courage and dignity. I am in awe of the situation here. Every little bit we do makes a difference."