Learning Photography, the Afghani Way

Afghanistan Children

In faraway (and Islamic) Afghanistan, a group of young students in the rural mountain village of Eal Keshan were handed disposable cameras after being taught the basics of photography. They must have taken very good photographs because the fund raising event which sold the photos back in Chicago managed to raise over $100,000 – charity money that will be spent for education purposes in Afghanistan.

Among the projects lined up is an eight-room school which will provide primary education to 800 students in Eal Keshan.

The disposable cameras were donated by Concern Worldwide, which identifies itself as a non-profit humanitarian organization aiming to improve the quality of life in third world countries. Having been in Afghanistan since 1998, the charitable organization must have been very aware of conservative Islam’s views on human images, and that education for most Muslims is solidly based on the Qur’an, not just Mother Goose nursery rhymes.

Eschewing the shotgun approach of trying to make people in “third world” countries live like those in “first world” countries, here’s hoping Concern Worldwide understands that charity is allowing people to live their own lives as they see fit, and not how the West views it.

[Via: PopPhoto.com]
Photo: Concern Worldwide

Published by Chris Malinao

Chris teaches Lightroom as workflow software to photography students at the FPPF, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation. He also teaches smartphone photography.