To those who aren’t familiar with my current travels and the project I’m involved with, here’s a little rundown.
While this trip has been in the making for almost two years, my two friends and I have finally joined in Sri Lanka and now India to visit with and work with Orphan Sponsorship International. We began in Sri Lanka where we stayed in an apartment alongside the 10 wonderful kids who live in the boarding house created by OSI. Nick Hindman is the founder of the organization, and a true hero. I wish I could find the words to describe how selfless and inspiring this man is.
Before I traveled I reached out to my friends and the online community asking for any old point and shoot cameras that were collecting dust to be donated to a project I wanted to do with the kids. Thanks to these generous people, I was able to put 6 cameras in the hands of eager kids across the world.
Our time in Sri Lanka was much more intense, we were able to see the kids whenever they weren’t in class and were able to spend a lot of time getting to know them and working with them more closely. We learned one of their dances and picked up a few words, it was a learning exchange. I showed the kids some photography and my friend worked on music with them.
During our visit in Pune India with the program there, we had a more limited opportunity to spend with the girls. Here there was no boarding house, but a program in place that worked with 42 kids within the Janata Vasahat slum community. We were able to join them on a number of their activities, and one FULL field trip day into the India country side. We were also honored to be invited into their homes where we visited some of their families and met with the kids one on one, what an experience! I was able to work with four of the 42 kids in the group on this photo project and their eyes sparkled when they took hold of the cameras, it was so much fun to work with them, even with the limited time we had together.
Both the boarding house in Sri Lanka and the girls in Pune India were given the cameras to continue the project. I am hoping to follow up in a future trip to continue our workshops and work together.
When I return home I will begin to work on the next phase of the project and I look forward to sharing it with you!
Leigh Righton Photography 
What an awesome project! So many things are possible through the camera, it’s a little box of wonders.
I’d love to know more about how you became involved with this organization and what your project entails.
Thank you, it’s exciting to be involved with such a fabulous organization. I connected with them through my friends, one of my travel companions worked with the founder of OSI when she was in the Peace Corps and remained in touch with him and stayed involved with his projects over the years. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity. Thanks for your interested, please stay tuned!