The first three days of the workshop we were divided into groups of four each going to a unique area. On day one we were going to the small village of Nourivier. Our group was a bit disappointed as we are nature photographers at heart and don't "do people" so to speak. The good news was that we had Colla Swart as our guide who knows the people of this village and was fantastic! Nourivier is about 50km from our hotel on windy and bumpy dirt roads. It is a village of 394 people and 90 or so homes. The first two images show the sign to the village and then the entire village as we descend upon it. You will note power lines on the road which were very new as Nourivier received electricity for the first time while we were there that week! Electricity being one outlet and one overhead socket for a light bulb.
This page of images will give you an idea of the appearance of the village. Some of the images are from the small school yard. Another is of Rainbow park a modest playground. Next to that image is a typical home with it's hut where much of the cooking is done. My new friend Beverly is teaching the "itsy bitsy spider" to the absolute delight of the school children. Next to that image of Bev is the school classroom with the principal giving instruction.
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My hope is that the images on the following pages express a sense of the wonderful people of this incredible village. As we started to photograph the people our hearts began to swell with joy for their humble yet joyful life. Our feelings of disappointment quickly vanished and were replaced with excitement and a desire to learn more about these wonderful people. I was not prepared for the depth of the emotions that this experience brought me. I came to realize that I am so very blessed but also that I live in a selfish society with an obsessive need for material things. Nourivier by any standard is poor but after spending two days there I can assure you they are not! They may not have the "stuff" we have, they have much more! I have been forever changed by these people. I am deeply grateful for the lessons they taught me and for the profound effect they have had on my life.