Foto’s Blog: DMW in Christian Science Monitor
Teke Wiggin, a freelance journalist, authored an in depth article on Dog Meets World. He interviewed phoDOGraphers Patti Hughes (Guatemala) and Samm Coffin (South Africa and Zambia). He also quoted the response of Georgetown University sociology professor Dr. Sarah Stiles stating Dog Meets World ensures that the dignity of the subjects (being photographed) is preserved and emphasized. Everyone agrees DMW opens up an entree to an interaction across cultures and brings out smiles. READ the entire article here.
Foto’s Blog: Photo Diplomacy & Public Diplomacy in Mumbai as Obama visits India
Phodographer Chinmoy Majumdar in Mumbai, India, November 2010
Chinmoy Majumdar said he took this picture as part of his second experience with the Dog Meets World project, this time at Snehasadan ( A home for homeless street children in Mumbai). He and his colleagues “teach English language to these kids for securing there job in future. And this is the project Michelle Obama is supposed to explore this week while President Obama conducts his diplomatic visit to India”.
Diplomacy comes in all forms and can be between citizens sharing and affirming through the power of a personal photograph. Join the DMW community of phoDOGraphers!
Foto’s Blog: Clowning around in Vietnam
NEW Phodographer Monica Keyes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Sept. 2010
Monica volunteering with Humanitarian Travels says “I work in the field of international education and this was my first DMW experience. One of my favorite “foto”graphs was this one of Phuong, who lived in the orphanage known as The Children of the Dragon. Phuong was the first child who greeted me upon arriving at the home – He stepped right in and began helping us carry and organize supplies we had brought and then he took on the role of being my right-hand-photo-printing man, directing the other children where to go and handing out their photos once they were printed. I left him with this picture of his own as well as my red clown nose to help continue to spread cheer among the other children. Though what he left me with – the inspiration from encountering such a strong, resilient boy who has nothing but a spirit of benevolence and leadership – was far more valuable.”
Foto’s Blog: Seeing their faces light up in Costa Rica
Phodographer Kyle Greufe in Costa Rica, August, 2010
Kyle is currently a Peace Corps Volunteer in Costa Rica. He said Dog Meets World has been one of the favorite activities he’s done at his school.
The best part would have to be seeing the faces of the children when they received their pictures, especially for those students whom I think don’t have very many, if any, pictures of themselves. The faces of these children were fixed on the printer, watching their image take shape, and then their faces lit up when they got to receive their own personal picture, for free, to enjoy. (Each picture comes with the date printed on it, so they can remember when it was taken.) Those were the kids that really made the project worth while. For these reasons, Dog Meets World is a great project to share with those who haven’t shared the same opportunities I may have had as a child. And I think the smiles in the photos speak for themselves.
Foto’s Blog: Foto stars in Dog Fancy Magazine
The December issue of Dog Fancy Magazine, the world’s most widely read dog magazine, is highlighting our photo diplomacy project! As Dog Fancy is the comprehensive resources for all things dog, it makes sense to see an article (page 12) under FUN DOG about how Dog Meets World is using Foto, our small stuffed dog to meet and greet, set the stage, and help fetch photos for kids and families in need around the world. Foto is the mascot, the ice-breaker, posing buddy, symbol of peace and love (check out the paw prints) and unifier of all the photos. Read our story and get involved!