Trotz des traurigen Umstandes, das FairMail-Indien im letzten Oktober 2014 seine Türen schließen musste, sind wir froh, dass der weitergehende Verkauf der indischen Postkarten nach wie vor eine positive Auswirkungen auf die Jugendlichen und ihre Familien hat. Mehr als 100.000 Rupien (über 1.500 Euro) gaben fünf Jugendliche allein in den letzten Monaten von 2014 für Baumaterial aus:
– Die 17. jährige Aradhana konnte mit dem Bau eines Hauses in einem Außenbezirk von Varanasi beginnen. Das bedeutet, dass eines Tages nicht länger Anteile vom Lohn ihres Vaters in die Miete gehen müssen. Für das Ziehen von Karren erhält er nur wenig.
– Kaushal konnte das Haus seiner Familie aufstocken.
– Sandhya konnte den einzigen kleinen Raum, in dem sie mit der gesamten Familie lebte, gegen ein eigenes Haus eintauschen.
– Anil Kumar und Anil Rao konnten wesentliche Instandsetzungsarbeiten bezahlen. Anil Raos Familie kann dadurch Menschen gegen Geld in ihrem Haus aufnehmen.
Sandhya’s new home under construction
Es macht uns glücklich, dass es nach der schweren Entscheidung FairMaul-Indien zu schließen, wenigstens diese Bisschen guter Nachricht zu erzählen gibt. Unglücklicherweise scheinen die Spannungen zwischen den Familien der ehemaligen FairMail-Jugendlichen noch immer zu bestehen. Einer aus dem indischen FairMail-Team ist nach wie vor seit Juli 2014 im Gefängnis – ohne, dass die Anschuldigungen gegen ihn sauber untersucht worden währen. Eine sehr traurige Situation, die wir, wie es aussieht, immer weniger beeinflussen können.
Hello… Namaste… I am Kaushal and I am a photographer at FairMail India.
I am 15 now and I joined FairMail two and a half years ago. Before that I didn’t know anything about cameras. First I wanted to learn a lot and try to take some nice photographs to earn some money and help my family, but now that I understand it more I have a dream to become a professional photographer and take many creative photographs all around the world. I have lots of creative ideas and sometimes I have to spend a long time on my picture until I am happy it is perfect. I have four more years to study at my school and then I hope I will be able to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts course at the University here in Varanasi and use my photography skills.
Kaushal with his family in front of his house
In my family I have only sister, my grandmother and my mother. My father died when I was at the age of ten so it was a big burden for my mother to care for me and my whole family. I did not have any hope in my life because of my families’ situation. But in February of 2009 I was been selected to work in FairMail India. There I learnt how to be creative by taking picture and I was also encouraged to think about a dream for my life so now my dream is to become a good photographer and become a psychologist. Now I am very positive that I can reach my goal.
From the sales of my first card at FairMail I was able to earn 5.000 Rupees and I used the money to build a second room at my house. I live with my sister, my mother and my grandmother and before I had the money we all lived in one room together, now there is a little more space for my family.
Kaushal with his new laptop
This year I bought a laptop for my study as I am in high school and for my sister to use. She has a job typing in Hindi but before we had the computer she had to walk far in the dark to another computer and I thought it was dangerous for her and I was always worried about her. Now I have bought my laptop she can type at home and earn some more money for our family. I never thought that I will ever own a laptop in my life but FairMail made my dream full fill. Now I am saving my FairMail money to pay for my University course and I will also finish the building of my house.
One day I hope I will be a very famous photographer and when I am I would like to say thank you to FairMail for teaching me and go to FairMail in Peru as a volunteer to teach more teenagers how to be good photographers. I hope you like my photographs.
I want to thank FairMail and also to all who buy cards of FairMail because this makes our dream full fill.
Greetings,
Kaushal Das
(To watch the video of Kaushal in action taking pictures in Varanasi, click here. To buy Kaushal’s cards, click here)
