I did this photos for the assignment for The Other Hundred book… and I would like to get more out of it for Diana.
Cristina asked me at the beginning what Diana will have out of being on photographs published in this book. When I visited her I brought some pens, notebooks and sweets for Diana and her family. I would like to go there again in two weeks and bring more things for her.
Diana (age 11) lives with her family in Bogata. In romanian language, Bogata means “Rich”. Ironically, Diana’s family belongs to a poor Gypsy community and their income is less than 100 dollars per month. Her mother lost her job and her father is not allowed to work due to illness. His only income is the pension paid by the government. They all live in small two-room house. Diana is very passionate about school. They don’t even have a table at their home, so she draws and writes on her knees or sits down on the floor and holds her notebook on the bed. The girl is lucky that her parents understand the importance of education. They want a better life for her than what they have. Cristina is a very important person in this story. She is the person who told me about Diana. She is 26-year-old Gypsy girl from Giurgiu, a small town in southern Romania. Cristina not only managed to finish high school, which is quite a big success for a girl in a Gypsy community, but she also moved to Bucharest where she attends college and works as a social worker. She used to work as school mediator for NGOs, motivating parents, and helping disadvantaged kids. Diana and Cristina’s paths crossed with the help of Cristina’s friend who knew about the bad situation of Diana’s family and Diana’s passion for learning. Cristina not only helps to get necessary items for Diana but she is also the perfect example to follow for Diana.
Diana (age 11) is explaining to her father what the book is about. Her father is illiterate. photo © Aga Luczakowska
Diana’s drawing. She draw everything with ruller. Her dream home has flowers in the windows while her reall window is just a glass put into the wall. photo © Aga Luczakowska
Diana’s drawing. She draw everything with ruller. Her dream home has flowers in the windows while her reall window is just a glass put into the wall. photo © Aga Luczakowska
Diana’s home. photo © Aga Luczakowska
Cristina is the perfect example to follow for Diana. photo © Aga Luczakowska
Window through Diana sees the world. It’s just a glass put into the wall. © Aga Luczakowska
Framed photos of Diana (age 11. Her parents understand the importance of education. They want a better life
for her than what they have. © Aga Luczakowska
Diana’s parents talk with Cristina about their hard situation. Their income is less than 100 dollars
per month. photo © Aga Luczakowska
“Girls” talk between Diana (age 11) and Cristina (26). Cristina not only helps to get necessary items for Diana (such as paints and pens, and other
school supplies), but Cristina is also the perfect example to follow for Diana. photo © Aga Luczakowska
