"if a picture paints a thousand words, why can't I paint you?"

I am sitting here chatting with my friend Amy. We're discussing whether we should add photos to our blogs and newsletters. Photos are colourful, they add interest and SHOW you what what we see and do but just how accurate are they?

  You will see a picture of cute children from Laura Flores.   A pretty little girl in a dress smiling shyly to the camera. The problem is, there is so much that you won't see. You won't notice the fact she has no shoes on because she doesn't own any. You can't see the marks and scabs on her from constant flea bites and ringworms. A picture cannot show you that her hair is filthy and uncombed, she is unwashed, her clothes are dirty and she might even smell.

A photo can't tell you that although she is only 4 that little girl will be responsible for caring for her younger siblings. In spite of being so young and vulnerable, she will walk to school and go to the shops alone. She will be left alone for hours every day to play and walk about the streets while her mother works.


   The really shocking thing is, in spite of her poverty, difficult future and neglect-she is happy.