How much is ten dollars?
At the current exchange rate, $10 works out to be exactly R92.89. So right now, $10 will buy you 7 litres of petrol, roughly 5 beers, maybe a decent steak provided you don’t go somewhere too pricey.
But to Naw, an HIV positive woman living in rural Thailand, that $10 could change her life.
I heard about Naw from a man by the name of Daylin Paul (Mr D on the site) who, besides being one of the best photo journalists I’ve ever met, is also a stand up guy and one of the few who has chosen a life of hardship and sacrifice for the good of others.
He packed his life up last year and struck out for Thailand to work with NGOs there and fight the good fight for the poverty-stricken people living in rural parts of the country without access to so many things we take for granted.
At this point I know a lot of you reading this are probably thinking, “Why the hell didn’t he stay here in SA and fight the good fight in his own country?â€
He did for awhile and has worked as a photo journalist for the Cape Times and Cape Argus and now divides his work between Africa and Asia which is what brought him to Thailand where he currently resides.
His current project involves trying to raise awareness about HIV in communities in Thailand where they are cut off from modern conveniences and access to information.
In these parts of Thailand there is a strong social stigma still attached to HIV / AIDS and a shocking lack of understanding of the disease.
This is something Daylin seeks to address by documenting the hardships people in rural Thailand endure through Naw, a single mother living with HIV who works six days a week in conditions that most healthy people would struggle to cope with.
Daylin has an Indiegogo page (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-mother-s-story) where he’s trying to raise a modest $2500 to fund this photography / multimedia project.
His end goal is to get his work either published or have it featured in an exhibition where it can be used as a tool to promote greater awareness of HIV in rural communities in Thailand whilst highlighting the amazing work that NGOs are doing that often goes unnoticed.
But seriously, this post does no justice to Daylin or his project, you need to check out his Indiegogo page and get donating.
At the moment he’s managed to raise just over $400 so he’s still got a ways to go. I figure if we, the good people of SlickTigerLand, each do our part to pledge $10 to his cause, he’ll reach his target goal and get the funding he needs by the end of next week.
Let’s shine a light guys. Daylin has 27 days left to reach his target – share this with your friends and your friend’s friends and let’s make it happen.
-ST
