The need for affirmation is a basic need... we all need to feel like we matter, that we are important. We all want to be acknowledged as a person. Today's post highlights an organization that is doing just that!
While traveling the world, Carolyn Lane frequently photographed children as they played with Foto, a small stuffed toy likeness of her dog that she carried along. Witnessing the children's delight seeing their image on the digital screen, she imagined what it would be like to actually print their picture and hand it out right then and there. This concept forms the basis of Dog Meets World and the advent of Take and Give Photography. Today's small portable battery operated printers make it feasible, fast and fun!
Can you imagine your life without treasured pictures? It is eye-opening to discover just how many people do not possess a single picture of their children, or even themselves. Smiles erupt when they see their images, often for the first time and realize "that is me!" Giving a photograph is a simple act of kindness. It says "I see you and I acknowledge you, for all time."
Why photos and not food?
Dog Meets World is designed to provide relief of the poor. Mazlov’s hierarchy places physiological needs of food, shelter and housing as the most primary. A photograph of one’s self addresses a higher need. By providing permanent recognition, a photograph contributes to self-esteem. In the poor neighborhoods visited by DMW emissaries, the experience revealed that needs at different levels are not exclusionary and lower needs to do not necessarily need to be fully met to have a desire to reach higher.
The Vision for Dog Meets World
The vision is to establish a movement to photograph the children of the world. To seek children in their own settings, print their image to keep for a lifetime. We have replicated Foto, the stuffed dog, to enable scores of world travelers to participate with this intentional project. The dream of Dog Meets World is to empower travelers to make real connections to people in other cultures, in essence to become photo-diplomats. A picture makes anybody a “somebody”. Dog Meets World clothes people in acknowledgment and affirmation and feeds their souls, which indeed is priceless
Who can participate in Dog Meets World?
Anyone who travels for whatever reason to the developing world or to pockets of poverty in the developed world, can add Take & Give photography to their trip. Whether you are a tourist, on business, joining a volunteer vacation or mission trip, on a service trip, taking a university-led study trip, member of the Peace Corps, or on responsible travel tour, you name it, Dog Meets World can be added to provide a great entry point for interactions with local peoples. All it requires is bringing along the small compact printer with supplies and your own Foto dog. It’s guaranteed to bring joy to those on both sides of the lens!
Check out the Dog Meets World Photo gallery.
Get Involved:
Donate to Dog Meets World. (Take home your own stuffed Foto)
Become a Phodographer.
What is a Phodographer? Using little stuffed "Foto" to unite the images & pose with the kids, a Phodographer brings Take & Give Photography to those in need around the globe. A Phodographer acknowledges others with a simple act of kindness and affirmation, by giving them a personal photograph. Foto the dog, is the recognizable symbol and ambassador of this international global effort.
Source: Dog Meets World
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