Filming in India, 2015

January this year I had the privilege of returning to India to again document the work of Children of Mother Earth with children and families living in slums near the railways and in poverty stricken villages. The work of Ravi and his team is the most holistic, heart-wise and visionary NGO work I have ever had the honour of documenting. As the second most populous country on earth and with some of the most extreme poverty in the world life in an Indian slum is extremely precarious. It is into this world that Ravi and his team venture every day walking a delicate balance of care, support and empowerment.

CoME homes now provide housing, education, emotional support and materials needs over 200 children who were either living on the railways or whose families, too poor to care for their own  child, have asked CoME to provide a home instead.

My job now is to turn the hours of footage we returned with into a document that will provide CoME with a tool to build more support for for its work. A daunting yet exciting challenge. 

Shadara slum near Shadara railway station, Delhi

Shadara slum near Shadara railway station, Delhi

Shadara slum near Shadara railway station, Delhi

Shadara slum near Shadara railway station, Delhi

Homeless man in Gorakphur, India

Homeless man in Gorakphur, India

Filming with Ravi at Shadara slum, Delhi

Filming with Ravi at Shadara slum, Delhi

When I last filmed Sumon 7 years ago she was a living at a railway, self harming and running her own gang of young beggar kids. She finally left the railways to live permanently at Apna Ghar, Lucknow. Two years ago she married an…

When I last filmed Sumon 7 years ago she was a living at a railway, self harming and running her own gang of young beggar kids. She finally left the railways to live permanently at Apna Ghar, Lucknow. Two years ago she married and now has a baby son. Together with her husband she is planning to open a small shop in her home village. 

CoME children at Lucknow Apna Ghar, India

CoME children at Lucknow Apna Ghar, India

Ravi and some of his kids at Phasar Apna Ghar, Northern India

Ravi and some of his kids at Phasar Apna Ghar, Northern India

More of Ravi's incredibly cute kids. Phasar Apna Ghar, Northern india

More of Ravi's incredibly cute kids. Phasar Apna Ghar, Northern india

Archie Roach - Surviving lung cancer

A few months back I filmed Archie Roach as he spoke of his journey surviving lung cancer. His gentle wisdom was so compelling as he shared his many fears, days of frustration during his rehabilitation and his new way of understanding and celebrating his life. 

The film can be viewed here

Archie Roach DVD label copy.jpg