THANK YOU
We have reached our funding goal! Thank you so much! And please keep donating and promoting during the remaining time. Every little contribution will create more visibility for these girls. During the campaign I have received several proposals for exhibitions, which we can make reality with any additional funds that come in.
Eight years ago, I photographed a group of teen mothers and their babies in a shelter for street children in Managua, Nicaragua. This spring, I am returning with my camera to find out whether their dreams have come true.
Street children with babies – documenting motherly dreams
In 2008, when I was planning my documentary film Karla’s Arrival in Nicaragua, I photographed six street mothers. They were still kids, between 12 and 17 years old. Together with their newborns, they had taken shelter at a local NGO. They received a bed and cot, were properly fed, learned life skills, and were given medical and psychological attention. After some time, mother and baby were guided back into society, ideally back to their own families.
The love beaming from the eyes of these young women is deeply touching. Beyond their weathered exteriors, there is an imagined happy future for them. This makes me wonder: how have they fared in life since I met them? What has become of their babies? I invite you to find out with me.
When & How
In April, I am returning to Nicaragua armed with copies of the original images, my stills camera, a short list of contacts and some money for the bus.
It is my intention to find the six mothers (who are now between 19 and 25) and their children, and ask them if I can photograph their lives as they are living it today.
My goal is to discover what has become of the love that oozes from their faces in the original pictures of eight years ago. Did their dreams come true? No doubt they each have a different answer.
It is a great honor that we have already secured a first publication, by OneWorld, the prestigious Dutch magazine on international development, human rights and sustainability. We will work hard to make sure other international magazines will follow.
The images will also be turned into a travelling exhibition, just like we did with my previous photo project, Costuras a flor de piel.
And finally, after some time, the photos and stories will be published online as part of a photo-documentary, freely accessible to all.
Your collaboration
Please join me in turning this beautiful project about street children with babies into a reality. Your donation will finance the cost of the trip, fine art prints of the photographs (including copies for the six mothers) and a small permanent exhibition for the offices of Casa Alianza in Managua, the NGO that manages the shelter where I took the original pictures.
2 comments
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Koen Suidgeest
Author
Hola Nelida, gracias por tu mensaje. Estaría muy interesado en que publiques la inciativa en tu blog. Si quieres, podemos hacer skype o hablar por email, lo que mejor te va bien. Escríbame por favor a [email protected]. Un saludo!! Koen
nelida
Hola! Me interesa mucho tu proyecto para hablar de él en un blog colaborativo en el que publico. Me gustaría hacerte una pequeña entrevista y dar a conocer tu campaña de crowdfunding. Si estás interesado no dudes en escribirme ¡muchas gracias!