Trauma
This child is around 8. She had just been rescued from being a sex slave to one of the militias in D.R. Congo. She was clearly traumitised and I had to photograph her in near darkness. I have hesitated all this time putting the shot up as I believe it so accurately captures her pain, I feel uncomfortable. But the story needs to be told. The pain needs to be seen, sadly. Please pray for the Rwandas, Somalias, Congos and sadly now Kenyas of this world. As long as the barbarity is repeated so will the images be. It’s not for sale. But you can still give to HEAL Africa. healafrica.org
There are tickets available for a lunch where Lyn Lusi the head of HEAL Afrcia will be talking. So far no takers.
dazgwen
Emotional image poor little thing!
Paul Louis Vil...
I can only imagine the emotional tug of war that must have been going on inside you as you took the shot.
...and yes Mel, the story does need to be told and pictures sometimes read better than words.
I hope you have lots of good fortune towards raising funds at the luncheon.
Tony Middleton
sickening the brutality that exists…her pain in her beautiful eyes brings a tear to mine….
thanks for also finding the strength to share this with us Melinda..your work brings broader awareness and hopefully that will bring good and justice closer…
rgds,
tone
rebecca zachariah
No child should experience such tragedy. Where do we start?
Deborah Parkin
this is such a powerful image and more so with your description. This should be all over RB so everyone can just have a sense of perspective in their lives – i sponsor two children and everytime i feel sorry for myself or my children say something is not fair I show them their pictures and letters to remind them how lucky we all are. Thank goodness for people like you and I really hope you do well with your work and if i lived near you – i would be there.
Melinda Kerr
Thanks Deborah. Thanks everyone.
Deri Dority
Such an amazing image. You have captured her pain so that others can learn from it. It is so sad that this is going on. It must be emotionally draining to take these shots. With out them, their stories will never be told and help will never come their way. Through your photos you have ended up touching so many lives.
Hugs,
Deri
Scott Denny
Nicely done. That is the very reason I have posted photos of those I have met in Kenya. Pictures can help but there is nothing like having been there right with that young girl. Maybe you even had a chance to hold her hand or give her a hug.
People hurting is everywhere. We dont need to go half way around the world to see it. Photos like these and people like you challenge society’s demeanor of “self” and asks them to look past the person in the mirror everyday and extend themselves to others.
I work in a field where I see pain and hurt often. Sometimes all I can offer is to be an ear, treat the person like a human being, do not judge them, and most of all…be an encourager.
Thank you Melinda for your continued effort. If I get a chance to go back to Kenya, I will bring back more photos to further the cause.
Judith Oppenhe...
... how protective she’s being of her small body … her foot is tentative … i see anger in her eyes …
roybarry
As I sit here, looking at my 8 year old twins playing happily, I feel many things. Thankful for having been born in a “civilised” country, (I use this word in its loosest possible context), Distraught at the thought that in the 21st Century, such inhuman and barbaric treatment of our children still goes on, for whatever reasons, be they political, religious, inter racial or sexual. My over riding emotion is Anger, Anger at the perpetrators, Anger at Officialdom for not doing enough to stop these terrible abuses, Anger at my Government for not doing ANYTHING to eradicate whats going on and Anger at myself, for not doing anything to bring pressure on these people to make a change. Thank you for posting this image, thank you for having the Courage and Conviction that so many others are lacking. Thank You
Darren Stones
Well photographed and a well written caption, Melinda.