Perspective

Last week I spent two days in the villages taking photos for an organization looking to help families which have one or more members who have disabilities. These ranged from reduced sight to severe disabilities. As one might expect there is little to no help for people in this Country when your child, sibling, parent or grandparent has a disability. There is very little training for the blind, physiotherapy for the non-mobile or psychotherapy for the emotionally traumatized. Not to mention how do you find and access these people in small villages dotted about the countryside.

The group organized by IHerb Cambodia, has done an amazing job getting this program started and contacting commune chiefs to find those in need. These two days were spent delivering food, money and assessing further needs. My job was to photograph to provide content which will be used in presentations to campaign for further financial support. Under agreement with IHerb I will not be using any of the "case" photos myself so the photos attached are not of any of the cases involved.

However what I saw through the lens those two days ranged from gratitude, to strength and total resignation. It was heartening and devastating. There was often a lack of a complete family unit leaving a gap of financial support and physical presence. Often living in simple homes or shacks with lack of all proper western conveniences including clean water.

Fast forward to Corona virus, which is admittedly a serious public health concern. But the lack of rain this last year, a lack of tourist income and 100 degree temps in March have me way more concerned than this virus especially for the most vulnerable. With the reports of stores in the US running completely out of toilet paper I am again grateful to now live somewhere that provides me with a more grounded perspective of life in general. It is humbling and welcomed when I have these opportunities.

Please contact me if you would like more information to donate to this project.