The Kids with Cameras foundation

I would like to bring to your attention a charity that you may or may not be familiar with. The Kids with Cameras foundation was founded in 2002 by Zana Briski. Before the foundation of the organization, Zana had already been working with a group of children growing up in the brothels of Calcutta, India. Through photography classes and education, she managed to significantly change the lives of a group of bright young kids that were stuck growing up in hopeless conditions. Not only did she teach them a thing or two about photography, Zana and her team also tried to help the kids by arranging education and boarding school admissions, and successfully so. In my opinion, Zana truly is an inspiring Angel on earth.

Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman (co-producer) documented their victories, struggles, love and hard work in the Academy Award winning documentary "Born into Brothels" (Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, 2005). The documentary is an amazing, inspiring and touching film. In the course of the movie, you meet a group of kids that are just kids, yet they have reached a certain level of maturity by force of living in hardship. The movie takes you through the highs and lows of the project, and in the end leaves you with both a smile on your face and tears in your eyes.

The success of the project and consecutive Oscar winning documentary have led to more projects being started by the Kids with Cameras foundation. These projects need your support. Besides a variety of project in places like Haiti, Cairo and Jerusalem, the foundation is building a permanent school for the children of the red light district in Calcutta. You can help. If you have not watched the movie, go rent it, or better, order it from the Kids wih Cameras foundation web site. On the web site you can also order photographic prints of the kids' artwork, a book, or simply donate money that will go towards the various projects of the foundation.

For more information, donations and DVD / book orders, please visit the Kids with Cameras Foundation web site

Thank you for your attention,

Peace,