It Takes a Village

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

Sometimes when you set out to do good for others, what you get in return is the greater reward. I am writing from Egypt, 2 days after completing builds on several homes in the sister-villages of El Gazaer and Kolosna, as part of a Habitat for Humanity team. The villages are located up the Nile, a 5-hour drive from Cairo.

I will always cherish the opportunity to visit Egypt--especially at this turning point in my own life. Ironically, while building homes for others, I am "homeless" too, but thankfully not in the worst sense. I was laid off from my job a year ago and have been bouncing between family and friends while renting out my own residence in Washington, DC.

I was born with wanderlust, and taking photos during my travels to remote lands is a personal passion. To combine these into a possible new career when my life is in transition would be a dream come true. I've been to 5 continents and always enjoy meeting new people. I studied International Affairs and Filmmaking and while my photographic technique needs instruction, my interest in personal stories and my desire to document real life in the moment is what inspires the images I take.

While I own a Canon 40D, these snaps were taken quickly on a Canon Digital Elph, as I walked through the village or during a break on the build. Just like in my own life, this community houses others until they can afford a place to live. The joy of everyone who let me photograph them, offered us tea, assisted in the build, and introduced us to their families, reminds me of the community of friends who support me at home, and that I can't wait to meet around the world.