These two sisters, among many beautiful spirits, continue to bring me back to this incredible village ten years after my introduction to the area throughHumana India. The closing of the school in this village in 2010 is what gave life to the initiative to support schools for girls.
Of course these two girls were just born about that time, but their older sisters (four in all) were students in the previous school. All of them had been photographed by me, and all of them possess these exquisite features. There is one brother in the bunch, and he looks exactly like his sisters.
Here they stand in the doorway to their home, the most beautiful place to photograph in the village… and there are many incredible places. Last year they were some of the shyest in the village, but now they have blossomed into confident girls… taking me by surprise truly.
On honor of their courage this work will continue, for what they do is infinitely more difficult than whatever is done on my end. Unlike their mother and aunts, they know how to read and to write. They do not need a man to do so for them, for they can do so for themselves. When the time comes to have their own families, they will demand an education for their girls and in doing so will bring change into the world.
Nirvana Bodhisattva and his team at Nirvanavan Foundation have now taken these schools under their wings. The schools have prospered in the first year, with much more progress in store for the next year.
Last spring I put a challenge on FB for groups of six to support one school by donating $20 per month. Six amazing people came forward to fund this specific school and have made it clear to me that it is an ongoing project for them. As long as these girls want to study, this group of six individuals will continue to show their support.
So for those of you associated with this school, these are the faces which have benefited from your generosity. I congratulate you!
Note: These frames were exposed using a Hasselblad 555 ELD/100 mm combination, and scanned for proofing purposes only.
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