Young Woman at Sewing Center, Uttar Pradesh, India

I do miss this young woman and her friends, and have the highest respect for their courage in the midst of indifference and intolerance.

Their village is their world, and more exactly their home is their world. Unless they are attending school, they are almost always within the confines of their homes.

They’re fully aware of the hardships facing them and yet they persevere and endure through it all. In this classroom they could be themselves and act out their creative thoughts. It’s been an honor to be at their side all of these years.

Etsy 

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Teacher and Student, Sewing Center, Virat Nagar, Rajasthan, India, 2020

2020 was like another world, and I hope that this community is safe during these difficult days. Soon we hope that the centers can reopen and that they can make more beautiful clothing for their families and learn a valuable trade at the same time. In this picture stand the teacher and her student, on the rooftop which once did not exist when we first began our photography in 2006. Amazing how photography has documented the changes my eyes have witnessed over the years.

Etsy 

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Sewing Class, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

Last year was like another world, and I hope that this community is safe during these difficult days. Soon we hope that the centers can reopen and that they can make more beautiful clothing for their families and learn a valuable trade at the same time. We hope to reopen the sewing centers in 2022, and also incorporate the government education system within the traditional madrasas as per the community. All interested in helping with this project are more than welcome to contact me as per the links below.

Etsy 

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Two Students + Two Smiles, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018

Yesterday we photographed their school for the first time this year. We visited this school many times over the past few years but this year they have made a more serious effort to include more girls. They are also looking to hire more teachers and improve their level of education.

Our session yesterday included an impromptu hour of photography in their classroom and in front of their friends, thus the smiles on their incredible faces.

Over the past two weeks we have visited over 10 villages and reconnected with all madrasas within them thanks to my brother Imdadulla Nadvi and his trust in our collaboration. Tomorrow we set out to visit two more schools and meet more beautiful students of this region.

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Young Students + Classroom, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

For my Muslim brothers and sisters, we are also looking to connect 12 mosques stateside with 12 madrasas in rural Uttar Pradesh. I have been working with this community for over 6 years now, and would love to foster this connection. The idea was presented to me by the headmasters of these schools. One can only imagine the difference we can make!

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Best Friends + Rooftop, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

The words below were written in early January, and remind me of a better time. My hope is that we will once again return to this good work, and to a better world.

"In a little more than two weeks I will be in the presence of these students, with more color film in my hands. While most images will be made in monochrome, at least one roll per day will be in color. Thanks to Imdadullah, such portraits are made possible. This good man is doing his best to maintain the cooperation of the community, so that the sewing centers can continue and so that we can help the madrasas with their programs. In this very school the headmaster has asked for support, so that he can present a fuller curriculum to his students. He wants to continue the religious lessons of course, but would also like to include Hindi, English, Math and so on. I cannot wait to show up and do my best to make this happen!"

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Thread + Needle, Small Village, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018

Since COVID-19 forced us to close the schools, we continue to speak with the communities. The government has reopened many of the local business as well as the religious madrasas, but has continued to be more careful with the elementary schools. We are waiting for permission to reopen and will do so under the guidelines of the government.

This young girl is holding her Koran tightly, while facing the setting sun. She has been photographed by me since 2015 and lives in a tiny village within the beautiful state of Uttar Pradesh. In the other two frames a needle placed in thread is being held by the hands of one sewing student. 

While these young women love to be photographed, it is such a different experience for them. So when asked to hold the thread, she did it so tightly that the tips of her fingers turned white from the pressure. I then walked over to her and helped ease both her grip and her nervousness. It's a privilege to connect in such a way with these young women, and to have their confidence. 

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School Uniforms + Students, Rajasthan, India, 2020

These young women attend a sewing center in their village, run by their friend in whose house the center has been established. In addition, there is a small school for the village children in the same house. This is the reason they have made uniforms, for the children attending that school. It's an incredible scene and truly inspires me to do more. These very women used to be students in that same school, over 14 years ago... community development at its finest!

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Family in Rajasthan, India, 2020

You know you're at the right place when this is the reception you receive. Thanks to my Rajasthani family and for this precious girl. I have known her since birth. She's a joy to experience and knows nothing but love and kindness. Her hair is finally long, and her personality is flourishing at this school. She's the one who decided to put color on me upon arrival!

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Two Students, Shamli District, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2018

When the girls are provided a moment to be themselves, to show affection for their friends, they are like girls all around the world. It is my honor to speak on their behalf to their headmaster. Each one of them knows that we are there specifically for them, that they are the center of our attention. It is very different than their day to day reality, but my hope is that we can be a part of the change to come soon.

Their headmaster is building a school specifically for the girls in the region, and we hope to help him do so. Of course this can't be done presently, but we believe in a brighter future and feel that these girls deserve more than our admiration.

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Cuando a las niñas se les da un momento para ser ellas mismas, para mostrar afecto por sus amigos, son como las niñas de todo el mundo. Es un honor hablar en su nombre con su director. Cada una de ellas sabe que estamos allí específicamente para ellas, que son el centro de nuestra atención. Es muy diferente a su realidad diaria, pero espero que podamos ser parte del cambio que vendrá pronto.

Su director está construyendo una escuela específicamente para las niñas de la región, y esperamos ayudarlo a hacerlo. Por supuesto, esto no se puede hacer actualmente, pero creemos en un futuro mejor y sentimos que estas niñas merecen más que nuestra admiración. 

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Student + Teacher, Parlor Course, Rajasthan, India, 2020

In this snapshot we have our new stylist, and her teacher. The school is more than a school for this young girl, it is her world outside of her home. She loves to attend, and every time we arrive she steps out of her house to greet us.

Her teacher has known me ever since she was a young girl. Back then she had short hair, and loved to wear pants and shirts rather than a dress. I am very familiar with her smile, it is now as it was then, sublime.

Soon the school will reopen, and this teacher will attend parlor courses in the adjacent town so that she can teach the older girls in the village. Until then, our stylist is in business! 

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Young Women + Sewing Center, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2020

For my Muslim brothers and sisters, we are also looking to connect 12 mosques stateside with 12 madrasas in rural Uttar Pradesh. I have been working with this community for over 6 years now, and would love to foster this connection. The idea was presented to me by the headmasters of these schools. One can only imagine the difference we can make!

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Radhika + Students, Sewing Class, Rajasthan, India, 2019

Who’s up to making a real difference in a rural village? Who’s interested in helping 10 women learn a trade to support their families?

6 people x $25 = 1 center

This monthly amount pays the teacher’s salary and supplies the fabric as well. Here's an image from teacher Radhika from this morning's session. They were working on their own clothing, as well as uniforms for their younger sisters!

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Best Friends + School, Rajasthan, India, 2019

These young girls used to attend class in the school which we support, and are now attending government school. This accomplishment was made possible through the hard work of teacher Pooja, and the support of the villagers. Now their younger sisters attend this school, and as long as they do we will continue to support. The look of familiarity on their faces speaks volumes! 

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Fabric for Uniforms + Sewing Center, Rajasthan, India, 2019

Amazing Radhika, the sewing teacher, went to town this weekend and picked up this bunch of school uniform fabric for her students. I love seeing her and her sister making decisions for themselves and their sewing center. It is they who decide what to do, which fabric to purchase and at which price to negotiate with the shopkeeper. They don't need a manager from a foundation, they don't need men standing in front of them to tell them how to run their center. They do it all on their own! 

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Students + Fabric, Sewing Center, Rajasthan, India, 2019

For those of us interested in supporting this school, and for those of us already on board, here is a portrait of the students from earlier today. More than a dozen years ago I was introduced to this village thanks to Humana India. This house back then was home to a school for girls, and the older girls from this village were the students. The school for girls continues to this day with private support, and girls continue to attend classes daily. It's a magical space!

Para aquellos de nosotros interesados en apoyar a esta escuela, y para aquellos de nosotros que ya estamos, aquí hay un retrato de las estudiantes de hoy. Hace más de una docena de años, me presentaron a este pueblo gracias a Humana India. Esta casa en ese entonces era el hogar de una escuela para niñas, y las niñas mayores eran las estudiantes. La escuela para niñas continúa hasta el día de hoy con apoyo privado, y las niñas continúan asistiendo a clases diariamente. ¡Es un espacio mágico!

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Imdad + Students, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

Four people are now supporting this project, so now we are looking for 20 more generous souls. For those of you who have been following my photography and are interested in lending your support to the girls within it, this is a great time.

24 people x $25 a month = 4 sewing centers + 1 school for girls 

In addition to our main school, we are looking to establish 4 sewing centers in, each supporting 12 students. The students attend classes for 2 hours a day, and are supplied with fabric as well for their lessons. At the end of their course each student will receive a new sewing machine.

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Student + Sister, Sewing Center, Rajasthan, India, 2019

Two people are now supporting this project, so now we are looking for 22 more generous souls. For those of you who have been following my photography and are interested in lending your support to the girls within it, this is a great time.

20 people x $25 a month = 4 sewing centers + 1 school for girls 

In addition to our main school, we are looking to establish 4 sewing centers in, each supporting 12 students. The students attend classes for 2 hours a day, and are supplied with fabric as well for their lessons. At the end of their course each student will receive a new sewing machine.

Website

Tumblr

Twitter

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Student + Sewing Center, Rajasthan, India, 2019

For those of us interested in supporting this school, and for those of us already on board, here is a portrait of one student from earlier this year. More than a dozen years ago I was introduced to this village thanks to Humana India. This house back then was home to a school for girls, and the older girls from this village were the students. The school for girls continues to this day with privatesupport, and girls continue to attend classes daily. It's a magical space!

Para aquellos de nosotros interesados en apoyar a esta escuela, y para aquellos de nosotros que ya estamos, aquí hay un retrato de una estudiante de principios de este año. Hace más de una docena de años, me presentaron a este pueblo gracias a Humana India. Esta casa en ese entonces era el hogar de una escuela para niñas, y las niñas mayores eran las estudiantes. La escuela para niñas continúa hasta el día de hoy con apoyo privado, y las niñas continúan asistiendo a clases diariamente. ¡Es un espacio mágico!

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Fabric + Young Students, Rajasthan + Uttar Pradesh, India, 2019

These are the fabrics Radhika purchased for her students this past weekend. She will go ahead and purchase some fancier designs this weekend as well. For those of us interested in supporting her school, let's come together and support her initiative. These young girls attend an Islamic school in their village because the families have little faith in the government school. The headmaster of the school is trying to expand his educational system to include the government curriculum, and we are trying to help him by raising funds for the salaries of his teachers.

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