Foto’s Blog: Beautiful in Belize
Phodographer Carolyn Lane in Ambergris Caye, Belize, September 2010
Dog Meets World offers an easy and truly fun way to connect with the locals while traveling. Heading to Belize to scuba dive the famous barrier reef, I contacted the owner of our hotel and described the photo project. Midweek during our stay she directed me to a community in need on the island and even provided use of a golf cart and donated the time of one of her young staff to serve as guide and “introducer”. While the undersea panorama was outstanding, spending a day in neighborhoods off the tourist beat let us see so much more. Our experience of Belize was totally enhanced and enriched by our people-to-people interactions and connections. It was especially fun when the young man pictured above came out with his puppy to pose with DMW mascot Foto, the pup!
Foto’s Blog: It’s all about LOVE-Photo Valentines for the World
Phodographer Itza Carbajal in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Aug. 2010
Itza, a student at the University of Texas in San Antonio volunteered at an orphanage in Honduras. She said what was special about doing Dog Meets World was the thrill of the children when they learned they could actually keep their pictures. Surprising, how children who has gone through so much pain can still shine with happiness.
LOVE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS…..spread through the power of photography and a little Foto pup, with a heart and a peace sign on it’s paws! Happy Valentine’s Day World!
Foto’s Blog: Intrigued in India!
Phodographer Rhia Bikshi in Chandigarh, India, January 2011
Rhia, a student at American University in Washington, DC, took the pictures while home over the winter break and noted:
“The children belong to underprivileged families living in and around the neighborhood. My aunt organizes classes every evening, mainly English, which the kids really seemed to enjoy. There were nine children and they were all in the age group of 5 – 9 years. They were incredibly excited about Dog Meets World and especially liked Foto the dog. One of the older kids was so intrigued that he wanted to learn how to use the camera. He was thrilled when he managed to take a photo of the group (the one with me in it). All in all, it was a wonderful experience, both for the kids and me.”
Foto’s Blog: Kid-to-kid diplomacy in India
Phodographer Coleen McIntyre in Chennai, India, December 2010
Coleen teaches at the American International School in Chennai, India. She writes about an activity for 3 classes that choose to raise money to buy abacus for students at the Seva Samajama Children’s Home. Unfortunately for a class of 50 plus there were only 4 abacus for them to share. Instead of just asking her students to get donations from their parents she gave them a week to earn money. They were to talk to their parents about jobs they could do around the home to earn money and decide together how much money the job was worth. One little girl who was so excited about it, she raised 2,500 rupees (about $50). Another student baked cupcakes and was selling them after school for 20 rupees each (about 50 cents). They really enjoyed being able to give. Coleen’s class alone raised 6,500 rupees (about $150)! Between the 3 classes they were able to supply the school with about 40 abacus, a box full of books (simple English, Tamil, and English/Tamil), and a variety of games and puzzels.
Coleen said “We took their students on a trip to deliver the packages personally. We spent about 2 1/2 hours at the school. All the children played games, puzzels, made frames to put their pictures in. They all seemed so happy. While they were doing their other activities I had the children from the Home have their Dog Meets World portrait taken. The one little girl who I’m giving the picture to was the sweetest little thing. Each time a picture would print one of the other teachers would go to deliver it and each time she would perk up hoping it was her picture. She waited so patiently so I made sure when hers was printed to call her over to see. She was so happy to receive her picture!
I had my students write about their experience and many of them expressed how they enjoyed giving the other children a picture and want to go back again. One little boy told me he wanted to take his mother and father so that they could meet the children too… so sweet.”
Foto’s Blog: Peace begins with a Smile-Salute to Sargent Shriver
PeaceCorps Phodographers in Costa Rica and Kenya, 2009
PeaceCorps volunteers have been venturing out in the world since 1961 when Sargent Shriver first organized the program to send Americans into the developing world with the mandate to “promote world peace and friendship”. In 1981 he said
The cure is care. Caring for others is the practice of peace. Caring becomes as important as curing. Caring produces the cure, not the reverse. Peace doesn’t not come through strength, strength comes through peace.
May Dog Meets World in it’s own small way, be a seed of peace. One PeaceCorp volunteer said “Thank you Dog Meets World for giving purpose to my Peace Corps service. Through DMW, I not only distributed photographs. I also brought a service to the people my communities. I showed them that I see them.”
