Young Heroes Series Statement
In April of 2007 I was invited to take photographs for an organization in Swaziland called Young Heroes. They support children who have been orphaned, mostly as a result of AIDS. The children live on rural homesteads with their grandparents, aunts and uncles, or by themselves.
I tried to photograph the people and homesteads in a very straightforward way. I wanted to include both the harshness of the living conditions on the homestead and the sublime beauty of the environment. In taking portraits I wanted to give the homestead residents the best opportunity to present what they want to show to the camera. Being photographed is not an everyday occurrence for them, so candid portraits are not possible. Almost all of the people I met on the homesteads enjoyed being photographed.
I was impressed by the spirit I found in the children and the dignity shown by the adult caretakers in the face of such a difficult situation.
Young Heroes Website at YoungHeroes.org.sz | Return to Young Heroes Photographs