Reponsibility 

4 creative works found

• 

  Samuel www.healafrica.org
  by Melinda Kerr

  Let me tell you about Samuel. I met Samuel at Mamman Jeanne’s orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Mamman Jeanne’s orphange is sponsored by CNEC Partners International and supported by Heal Africa. Samuel danced for us on arrival. He was awesome. I then had the privilege of interviewing him. In short, here’s his story: When Samuel was 2 and still being breast fed, his mother was set upon randomly by the militia. They do that, for fun. She was attacked with machetes and kiiled where she stood. Samuel was cut by the blow. You can see the scar on the left hand side of his face. He also has some scars on his scalp. Oh and he lost his left hand. Thinking they were all dead and their days work done, the militia left. Samuel was discovered, barely but still alive. He was taken from his mother’s corpse and somehow delivered to Mamman Jeanne. A remarkable woman who nursed him herself (as she was already breast feeding her own child). Samuel is now 16 and still at Mamman Jeanne’s orphanage. Which resides in a war torn country not ‘important’ enough to save. People like Samuel are everywhere in Congo. Everywhere. People like Mamman Jeanne? Not quite so many. Samuel likes playing soccer and dancing. Prior to us arriving a chid had been stolen from the orphanage by the militia to be a child soldier. How long do you reckon Samuel has? When people ask you to donate to these causes, they’re asking you because it’s the only way they will survive. It’s as simple and as gruesome as that. Not unlike the crime in the first place.

• What the hell is going on (and other uplifting stories)...
  by Melinda Kerr

  Ok, ok first of all, everyone breath. Cool. Now let’s check. Melbourne experiencing four seasons in one day? Check. Shane War…

  Ok, ok first of all, everyone breath. Cool. Now let’s check. Melbourne experiencing four seasons in one day? Check. Shane Warne caught out again? Check. Running my own business continuing to be challenging? Check. Darren Stones steering the good ship RB around icebergs with a confident if not somewhat alcohol induced flourish? Check. Some people on some distant journal thread arguing about freedom of speech as if RB is the most vital instrument for world peace on earth. Whilst slandering, vilifying and taunting each other with racial, overworked cliches from behind psuedo names? Check. So nothing new or unusual about today then? Un check. What the… Check this… Today in seperate orders people have bought… 1 canvas print of shoe woman plus 20 cards of shoe woman 150 cards of mother & child 25 cards of Possibility II 25 cards of the congo skipping kids & a further 26 of these 20 cards of this beauty 5 cards of these guys 5 cards of these little ones 2 cards of this chap 2 cards of this dude 2 cards of this princess 5 cards of this piece of possibility and 2 cards of this beautiful, precious boy I don’t know anything much about freedom of speech, flags, philosophy or anything like the stuff that’s been going on here this week. But I’ll tell you all ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING. These purchases will save lives. These people live on less than a dollar a day. They live in slums, gutters and sheds made of flattened alluminium cans. The love, they laugh, they dream – they dodge bullets, they run as fast as they can from rapists usually unsuccessfully, they starve and they cry. Every cent of revenue goes to them and the brave souls who live in a war zone to help them. They couldn’t give a rats about flags, and virtual slanging matches. They live on the real edge. I didn’t cry once in Africa. Right now I am sitting here drowning in tears. Maybe change is possible? Even the tiniest bit?? Thanks RB – thanks whoever. EDIT: SEEMS LIKE A GOOD TIME TO DEBUT THIS FELLA. Oh and thinking of turning some of these into Chrissy cards if anyone’s interested.

• 

  'Congo Spirit' HEAL Africa Hospital, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
  by Melinda Kerr

  Love him. And available as a Christmas card! It is full size just doesn’t look it here. / HEAL Africa calendar available now!!! CLICK HERE. / And there’s a trucker cap. / Hey, doin’ good needn’t mean you can’t be cool at the same time. CLICK HERE FOR THE HAT!

• 

  'Gift,' Democratic Republic of Congo
  by Melinda Kerr

  We had just been talking with some of the patients at the hospital in Goma, DR Congo. Every now and then my friend Rebecca Zachariah would dissapear. She’s a Doctor so I figured she was off to see a patient. Well she was but not just for medical reasons. Bec had bought a whole lot of stuffed toys from home. Squeezed them into her pack somehow. Then during the trip, she would nick off quietly every now and then and present a little child with a furry friend. No fanfare. She didn’t even tell me until half way through the trip. These kids hardly have any clothes and certainly have little food. In the case of this gorgeous little girl the only thing we were sure she had was polio. Well at the very least after we left she had a furry bear as well. And do you think she was going to let go of it? Not in a hurry :) This photo is the November shot in the HEAL Africa calendar. – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Black & white photography – Dog photography – Africa photography / - Beach photography - Monotone photography