Tanzania Treasures

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Tanzania | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

Because of my mom, I have always had a passion for helping people bring out who they are, and their unique perspectives of the world. After my dad passed away suddenly last year, my mom offered to take my brother and me with her on her dream trip to Africa (a trip she had planned to take with my dad) to see the "great migration" of animals from to Tanzania (from Kenya). It was a stunning and beautiful journey. We got folded into a mosaic of big skies, limitless vistas, and majestic animals in their natural habitat. And, most memorable to me was the beauty of the people...their spirits, faces, smiles, and, most of all, their deep eyes. My photo submissions attempt to portray this beauty through the children, and to capture their inner light and show it to the world. All but one were taken at a small school in eastern Tanzania (you can tell which ones, as they are wearing their school uniforms). The last one was taken per chance at a little dusty airport. A local class on a field trip had stopped there for lunch, as we did. The girl in the picture had HIV/AIDS. Heartbreaking to tears (for me) to see her and understand what she might be going through. But punching through all of this sadness (in my heart), was the light of her smile that seemed absolutely brilliant. In this picture, she looks so strong and seems powered by an invincible spirit that transcended her condition. In just 5 minutes, she changed my life. The memory of this girl I met in a dusty airport in Tanzania (and who I will never likely meet again) has continued to bring light to my every day life. She (and Tanzania) were the definition of true beauty, and light.