Help us change worlds with photography.
Firefly Children’s Home and Prisoner’s Assistance.
A Photographers Without Borders production.
DEARTING: MARCH 25 - APRIL 15, 2019
Every child deserves to live with dignity.
We’re using the power of photography to show how one organization in Nepal has created a better reality for hundreds of orphaned children.
Our Mission
As a Photographers Without Borders associate, it’s my mission to ensure the children and families supported by Firefly Children’s Home are portrayed in an honest light.
Many of these children, known as Fireflies, have faced devastation in their family infrastructure. In most cases, their parents are incarcerated—disrupting their sense of safety and self.
Firefly fills this intimate yet widespread gap by taking personal responsibility for the development, happiness and wellbeing of each child.
Firefly Children’s Home works to empower and support prisoners and their children through various programs:
- Sustainable solutions
- Education opportunities
- Housing
- Advocacy
- Welfare support
- Crime prevention
Regardless of the circumstance, there’s a real need to educate and nurture children in Nepal. All children, regardless of race, ethnicity, social or economic background, deserve to be raised with love.
I’ll be working in the field to create in-depth stories on Firefly Children’s Home. I believe my efforts will have a positive ripple effect on their community, Nepal, and even the world.
By amplifying the voices of those who are most vulnerable, we gain humbling new perspectives and become the force for change.
About the Photographer
Andrea Sarcos is a full-time visual storyteller.
Born in Caracas, Andrea was raised as a Venezuelan American in the Florida heat. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2015 with a dual bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Creative Photography.
She’s spent the past few years traveling internationally, connecting with people to understand their roots while simultaneously exploring her own family’s history of migration. Her works speaks to the soul, beautifully and purposefully depicting cultural identity, struggle and success.
Andrea’s purpose is to share profound, untold cultural stories. It’s her life’s mission to use her skills to support communities around the world.
“I believe we’re all connected. Through our shared planet, hopes and dreams. We’re in this together.”
Friends, family, big-hearted believers… We need your help.
We’re gathering resources for a MARCH - APRIL 2019 boots-on-the-ground trip to the Firefly Children’s Home in Nepal. It’s our mission to tell the stories of the Fireflies, so others can live a life of dignity, too.
Please consider sending $10, $20, $200 to contribute to the mission!
Anyone who donates will receive a signed print of their choice, in addition to the opportunity to win a complimentary portrait session with Andrea.
We believe in creating a better future. We’re asking you to create it with us.
↓DONATE TODAY ↓
A message from Photographers Without Borders:
Every year, our photographers and videographers donate hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of their time to document the work of grassroots initiatives that are making a real change in this world where it is most needed. By capturing, honouring and witnessing humanity at its best, we are not only inspiring many, but we are forging new narratives of what is and what is possible.
You can help by supporting our photographers and videographers.
Photographers Without Borders® (PWB) envisions a world where we all put ourselves in each others' shoes and work together. Our mission is to inform and inspire positive change by visually communicating the ways that grassroots initiatives are addressing problems in their communities. PWB is registered as a charity in the United States with 501(c)(3) status and is registered as a not-for-profit organization in Canada. All donations are calculated in US Dollars and are tax-deductible for Americans and Canadians with US income.
PWB is not responsible for any donations made outside of these pages.
Any overage amounts raised on GroupRev will be donated and disbursed 50/50, between the photographer's/videographer's assigned cause and PWB, which is also a volunteer-run organization.
PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY !
All donations are calculated in US Dollars and are tax-deductible for Americans and Canadians with US income.
|
Diana Holdsworth
Firefly is a wonderful and safe place for these children and I am proud to be associated with them. |
$100.00 |
|
Natalie
Amazing and inspirational. Much respect to you for bringing more love and light into this world that desperately needs it! |
$20.00 |
|
Amalia
Te queremos y bendecimos linda amiguita. |
$30.00 |
|
gina sarcos
Love you! |
$50.00 |
|
Anonymous
You’re doing a wonderful thing wishing you good luck and a safe trip. |
|
| David T | $100.00 |
|
Stroble
Enjoy and be safe |
$100.00 |
|
Gloria Ruiz
Very proud of you and your vision! Love you soul sister |
$30.00 |
|
Carolina Loughlin
Te deseo lo mejor en tu aventura en Nepal!! |
|
| hansen | |
| THE FLOWER POT LA | $100.00 |
| Gianmarco Pow-Sang | $20.00 |
|
Love you girl |
$20.00 |
|
April Pfender
So infinitely proud of you sweet soul sis! Thank you for doing the WERK!!! |
$30.00 |
| George Love | $10.00 |
|
Rachel
I fully support you and your beautiful heart/soul mission! You go girl! |
|
| Lori Mlini | $40.00 |
| Ashley Lombardo | $250.00 |
| Patricia Carucci | $250.00 |
| James! | $75.00 |
| Andrea Sarcos | $500.00 |
| Ashley Lombardo | $500.00 |
| Anonymous | $250.00 |
April 5, 2019 1:31 AM
Hello everyone,
I’d like to give you all an update about my journey in Nepal. This is my first time on this side of the world and I’ve been learning so much about the Nepalese culture and myself. I’ve even been mistaken as a Nepalese woman multiple times to my delight.
Day 1
I arrived on March 27th and have been here for just over one week now. I headed straight to Prisoner’s Assistance and Firefly Children’s Home main office in Kathmandu and met some of the team. The founder’s daughter, Subani, was very kind to me and gifted me a traditional kurti to wear. I spent time with the newest member of the organization, a three-month old baby girl who the organization adopted from a hospital on new year's day after her young mother abandoned her. The baby now has many loving caretakers. I felt privileged to spend time with her too.
After spending a night in the head office, their main driver took me and two other volunteers on an hour-long drive to the ancient town of Sankhu, where Firefly Children’s Home is located. We arrived to our apartment where I met the manager of the children’s home, Sagar, as well as an American volunteer who I’d be rooming with.
We dropped our bags off and us four volunteers walked up the hill passing small homes, lush green trees and produce fields until we arrived at the children’s home. 102 children greeted us in the courtyard. They were all so happy and curious of us foreigners. We joined them for their morning meal of dahl bhat (lentil soup, rice and veggies).
We then spent the day playing games and running around with the kids as well as getting to know the staff. I got a surge of inspiration and energy being in this new place with all of the energetic children. I began taking photographs of the center, which has a beautiful view overlooking the town and mountains in the distance. The children’s home includes a three-story dorm for the girls, a dorm for the younger boys, two small houses for the older boys, two buildings that house multiple classrooms, a kitchen, dining area, dish washing area, a courtyard with a playground, a basketball court, and a garden. Here, the children have all that they need and more. They go to school, are provided three meals a day, a safe place to sleep and the company of other kids and adults.
How The Children Have Impacted Me
Something I find quite incredible is how hard-working these children are. After each meal, all of the kids wash their own dishes and then brush their teeth. They also take turns cleaning up the dining area by sweeping the floors and wiping the tables. They wash their own clothes by hand, clean their dorms and sweep the courtyard. They take care of the garden and goats too. Their level of awareness, responsibility and teamwork is awe-inspiring to see.
I’ve been learning that these kids all come from difficult backgrounds, many of their parents are either in prison or deceased. However, they never show signs of their difficult histories. Instead they smile, laugh and play just like any child should. Most of the children end up growing up here and leave when they’re in their early twenties after finding jobs. Some also leave after a few years when their parents are released from prison.
While living here, the children consider each other brothers and sisters. They have two housemothers that look after them, and Sagar is like their father figure. Everyone works together as a unit so that no one is ever left out. All in all, they are like one big family.
Each day they teach me something new. I am humbled to spend time with them. I have a few days left and my goal is to be as present as possible with them and to give them love and attention because they deserve it.
Still Accepting Donations!
Thank you for reading, following my journey and giving your support. I am still accepting donations which will go toward P.A. Nepal and Firefly Children’s Home. Some contributions will also help pay for my flight, vaccines, visa, and travel insurance expenses. I’m also buying gifts for the children and staff, so your donations will help with that too!
Honestly, each donation I’ve received has been incredibly heartwarming to me. Thank you! You are an essential part of this journey too. I’ll post another update in the near future. In the meantime, you can see some photos on my instagram account: @andreasarcosphoto
Warm regards,
Andrea
Give Now
