I was talking with a friend a few days ago about how fortunate we all
are in the western world compared to other people in the third world.
Agreed, those people we call poor, may well be very much richer than
us in moral, behaviour or happiness terms, but we are talking about
modern comforts and money we enjoy here.
I know myself that were my fridge, or washing machine, tv or computer
to fail, I would be seriously worried! Out of these four items, I would
rank my computer the most valuable in my personal case, without which I
would feel as lost as a duck in the desert!
But believe me when I say I have been to places and sat down and
talked to people who do not know where their next meal is coming from or
how they are going to get it. For these people, they are absolutely
ecstatic if they can fill their stomachs for the day, and sleep
contendedly, until the next day.
I visited one such family in rural India last time I was there,
getting to their home just as they had woken up, and seeing how they
live day by day. This particular family live in a round 20 foot shack
made of branches with old cloth tarpaulins and plastic sheets on the top
to keep out the wind and rain. In the middle of the shack are hung big
lengths of cotton dyed sheets, acting as dividers between the living and
sleeping areas. A total of 6 people live in this space, two parents and
4 children.
The second section is divided up once more into a smaller section,
one for a rudimentary bathroom (the bathroom area is for washing your
face and bathing for the ladies, nothing much else as all other toilet
ablutions are done in the bush) and the other for a kitchen. There is no
flowing water in the area at all, not even a standpipe, and the nearest
well is located at the start of the village, quite a walk away.
I saw
small children aged no more than 4 or 5 years old, carrying small tubs
of water to their homes with their parents; this alone brought tears to
my eyes; no child should ever have to do this.
But in this small and primitive existence, I found cleanliness and
order, peace and tranquility and above all, happiness. Ok, fine,
although the people were smiling all the time I was there, when I
mentioned their finances, or lack of, their children’s futures, in other
words normal day-to-day parental things, then I could see that their
happiness was only transitory. There is never enough food to go around,
and many times the father and mother stay hungry and let the children
eat. Disease is rife, as nobody can afford medicines.
And food? What do they eat when there is something to eat? Red
chillies, garlic and salt, all ground up into a thick paste, together
with half a chapati (like a tortilla, only thicker). That is their food
for a day, washed down with water.
But there is hope on the horizon. A few days later, I was told about a
local self-help scheme that some of the villagers had set-up, with a
little help from voluntary donations from well-to-do locals, and it is
this scheme that I want to mention here.
The villagers have set up a small business, which even though does
not turnover millions of rupees, it still makes enough money that
enables the participants to pay for all their costs and overheads, and
leave a little left over to pay for their food and essentials. Now
things are improving, but only for those who can afford to join up to
the scheme; others who cannot, continue to suffer as before.
Working in the scheme, participants can make a few hundred rupees a
month. Not much you are probably saying but let’s not forget that it
these are the same people who were living like that first family I
mention above, but their decision to join up with the scheme has enabled
them to better themselves a 1000-fold.
I was so moved by the sheer poverty these people are living in, that I
racked my mind trying to think how I could help as well. In the end, I
purchased a whole load of their items, a purchase that made them
extremely happy, for never before had they received such a big purchase!
It only dawned on me later what I was going to do with so many of the
products! By the way, 90% of the price will go back into the scheme and I
will not be making any profit out of this at all — the well-being of
those families is uppermost in my mind.
So if any of my readers are interested at all in making a difference
to those poor families’ lives, please purchase one or more of these
beautiful notebook journals, all hand-made of course, with recycled
paper and leather from ethical sources.
The covers are all unique, being hand-embossed, and the writing paper
is good quality and sound enough to take fountain pen ink or ball-point
or pencil. Approx. 90 double sided pages. Each journal comes with a
useful elastic close and a nice silk ribbon placemarker. There is also a
space in the spine of the journals for a pen or pencil. Very nice and
handy 80mm by 100mm size, ideal for your pocket or handbag. Ideal for
use as a notebook for your photography or a journal for your up and
coming photo shoots. I have sold many to students attending my street
photo classes!
Price UK/Europe is just £3.50 plus £1.50 shipping
USA/Canada/rest of world price is US$5.25 plus US$2.50 shipping
You can pay via Google Checkout, PPPay, Paypal or direct bank transfer. Email me or leave me a message via a comment.
PS I asked that first family if I could photograph their daily
chores, saying that they may be posted on the internet later on, but
after thinking about it, they politely declined, saying that they didn’t
want the world to see the poverty they lived in, and I fully respected
their decision.
