Photograph by Sebastiao Salgado
This photograph is one of the most depressing to me so far; compared to the images I have looked at during these blog posts. It takes places in N’Dosho, which is near the city of Goma in Zaire. As you can see it is an orphanage. These are the children of Rwandan parents that just didn’t make it as they were attempting to flee their country amidst the genocide. You can also see that this orphanage, named the S.O.S. Orphanage, is very much underemployed. It is estimated that there are over 4,000 children living in this facility (Salgado). They are without a mother, without a father, and possibly without much hope of a future. Fortunately they can have futures. There are organizations such as the Orphans of Rwanda are trying to get these victims to have a fresh start after the terror of the genocide (Orphans of Rwanda).
Works Cited
1. Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Aperture Foundation. New York. 2000. 197.
2. ---. Pamphlet. “Rwandan Refugees in the Area of Goma, Zaire”. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. New York, Aperture. 2000. 197. Pdf.
I was taken aback when I saw and read your post. It was one that I had yet to see and it is a depressing picture. I was thinking about how it would be possible to bring to light the goodness of the people who live there. Maybe help us become attached to these children because the lady in the picture obviously is. I think that despite the situation, and as you stated a little bit before, we should be optimistic, but also recognizing the need to help. It's a beautiful picture to me. One of charity, love, and goodwill. It's quite the lesson for all of us.
ReplyDelete