Save the Children

Founded in 1932 to benefit people in Appalachia who were hit hard during the Great Depression, Save the Children is an independent organization that today ensures the well-being of children in over 110 countries throughout the world.

Salud Neonatal - Save the Children is implementing a program funded by the Gates Foundation to reduce newborn deaths in Bolivia. Each year approximately 8000 children die in their first month of life. We have a program with the Ministry of Health that is working to reduce this number. © Michael Bisceglie

Field Director Gary Shaye has worked with the group for over 30 years and has the following to say regarding the impact that photography has had on him and the program:

Deporte No Competitivo - A part of our Youth Program, Making Decisions is non competitive sports in which all can participate. This allows many teens to enter our program in a way in which all can participate. © Michael Bisceglie

“I have worked with Save the Children for over thirty years and have found that photography is a superb vehicle to convey the necessity for, and the impact of the work that Save the Children does throughout the world. Images that capture a moment, a situation, and most importantly the faces of the people with whom we work convey the connection between the various environments in which we conduct our programs, and those that participate and benefit from our work.

We work with farmers to improve milk production so they earn more money to feed their children. © Michael Bisceglie

“Most of our supporters will probably not have the opportunity to come and make field visits, so those of us working both in the United States, and internationally need to bring people to our work by sharing images that best represent what we do.

“In Bolivia Save the Children has a national program called Making Decisions which is a youth program that develops leadership, increases self esteem, and addresses the important issue of teen pregnancy. There is nothing more powerful than a picture to convey the pride and confidence of the teens in our programs. We also have a women's empowerment program which reaches over 1200 rural indigenous women. Women who never spoke in public before, now are group leaders and occupy leadership positions in their communities.

“Each year, our largest mailing to our sponsors and contributors is our annual calendar. For the calendar we select the best images that we have, which will provide our supporters with photos of the people with whom we work every day. We present positive images of change, and in each photo one can sense pride and accomplishment which are key results of our work. In times of emergency, such as floods, or landslides which are common in Bolivia, one picture can capture the urgency of the situation.”

Education - One of our volunteers working with two students in our Education program in Oruro. © Michael Bisceglie

Photographer Doug Going often volunteers his efforts for Save the Children as well. He shared with us the following:

Group Meeting of Teens who are in our Making Decisions Program. This program focuses on leadership, communication, and sexual and reproductive health in an attempt to reduce the high teen age birth rate in Bolivia. One if five births is to a teen between the ages of 15 and 19. We work with the government Health Clinics to address this important issue. © Douglas Going

“When I first started taking photographs I was drawn to landscape photography - inspired by greats such as Ansel Adams. However, as I traveled, I increasingly found myself drawn to photographing the people who inhabited those very same lands. For me it is the people that give a landscape its context and, ultimately, its true beauty.

Seguridad Alimentaria or Food Security - We have a comprehensive program funded by the US Agency for International Development that is reducing malnutrition, by addressing malnutrition by increasing food production and access to markets. We work in over 200 rural communities in the Department of La Paz. This woman is a health worker trained by Save the Children. © Michael Bisceglie

“When I photograph people I try to capture a moment in time and communicate something about that person’s life. I think about the person first – who are they, what makes them who they are, etc. Getting to know them, making a connection with them, is primary. Taking their photograph is actually secondary. In fact, when I first enter into a situation I often have my camera put away, as I don’t want it to get in the way of getting to know them - and them me. I want them to be comfortable with me before I start taking photographs (although sometimes time constraints unfortunately don’t always afford you this opportunity).

This photo was taken right after a landslide had pretty much destroyed all of this woman and her family's home just outside of La Paz © Michael Bisceglie

“Taking the time to get to know someone, even if it’s only on a casual level, will have an immeasurable impact on your photographs, because you won’t just be taking snap shots, you will be making photographs of real people with real thoughts, feelings, concerns, needs, desires, etc. In other words, you will find that they are no different from you.

Technology - This is a picture of one of the mothers of a teen in our program. She did not want to be left out of our Learning about Technology Program and came to our Center in Oruro, a city 3 hours south of La Paz. © Michael Bisceglie

“I always enjoy photographing for organizations such as Save the Children because you get to meet people who you otherwise would not ordinarily have the opportunity to - this is a rare blessing. In working with organizations like Save the Children, often the situations can be quite serious and sad. I have met people who live in extreme poverty and under desperate conditions. However, I always come away with having learned just as much about myself as I do about them.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony in which the women of Caluyo (about one hour from La Paz) inaugurate their first ever women's center. As one woman said, "Now, we longer have to ask the men for permission to have a meeting." © Mario Corvetto