Mother + Entrepreneur, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, 2013

Here is a portrait of another recipient of a micro-loan sponsored by Humana People to People India almost 8 years ago. At that time I was collaborating with this great team and helped to document this project in Virat Nagar, Rajasthan. This is one of my favorite places in India, since it also was the site of 16 beautiful schools for girls.

As an extension of the development programs in the region, micro-finance provided access to loans for certain portions of the population without such. This wonderful mother decided to use her funds to purchase this machine, and was able to feed her animals more efficiently. This in turn enabled her to purchase more animals, and have more milk for her family as well as for the market. 

Seeing real change as it happens is a marvel, and I cannot thank Humana People to People India enough for such an education!  

Etsy 

Facebook
Instagram 

Website

Tumblr 

Twitter

Boy + Grandmother, Humana People to People India, Rajasthan, India, November, 2013

While I waited for the sun to set a bit for the more formal session, I decided to walk around and photograph the surrounding homes. Within the same 100 meters or so was this older woman, accompanied by her grandson. He offered his portrait eagerly and coaxed his grandmother to do the same. The trick was to set up the tripod and make formal, architectural images while keeping an eye out for the faces… and on this day it worked.

One of three schools in this area reopened in this very village, less than twenty meters from this portrait. After walking around and make such images, we returned to the teacher's house and had a wonderful time photographing the past and future students. They were so attentive and beyond appreciative of the chance to attend classes once again. My ability to describe them stops at the images, for their reactions are beyond words.

www.halimin.org
www.halimina.blogspot.com