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Real Life in Images

Armed with a camera, compassion and curiosity, Indicorps Intern Kajal Patel set out into Ramapir No Tekro, Gujarat’s largest slum settlement, to discover how to use her craft in service of others. In an exhibit that opened on May 8 at the Satya Gallery, inside of Seva Café on Ahmedabad’s C.G. Road, Kajal shared a series of photographs of widows and women who earn up to Rs. 50 ($1.25) per day “ragpicking” - sorting through trash, separating the contents and re-selling materials to various recyclers. The exhibition featured women each of whom Kajal had discovered not only as a photographer, but as a friend. Prior to capturing their images, Kajal spent days and weeks immersing in their worlds, waking at 4 a.m. to pick trash with them, cook with them, play with their kids and hear their stories.
The exhibition serves not as a display of Kajal’s incredible photographical talent, but rather as a tool to inspire others with the dignity of the women that Kajal built relationships, as a way to start conversations about much needed change and as an opportunity to help the women improve their own lives. Citizens and visitors alike have been struck by the poignant images. The photographs are on sale at the Satya Gallery, and can be viewed here . All proceeds from sales go directly to a fund dedicated to helping the women featured become increasingly entrepreneurial and self-sufficient.

See more of Kajal's photography at her page on Trek Earth .

Kajal covered by the local paper, in Gujarati:

NDTV Feature on Indicorps

New Blog Entries

From the Gallery

See images by Kajal Patel, a talented UK-based photographer, that are part of an Indicorps project to capture the journey of India's people. Her work particularly focused on widows and the nature of the rag-picking industry in Gujarat's largest slum.

Aasma

Learn about the Indicorps / SAATH partnership, started by Indicorps intern Ajlai Basu, that has lead to Aasma - a volunteer-driven school for street children near the Indicorps office in Gujarat.

The Fellowship

The next fellowship applications are available for fellowship classes starting August 2008 and January 2009. To apply, click here.

Inspiration

If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.

- Lila Watson