Preserving Moments

Chimwang’onmbe Village Mobile Medical Clinic:

When we arrived at Chimwang’onmbe village, we were met with hundreds of sick people, many of whom had been waiting hours, and would be waiting many more, in the sun to see a doctor. My task at the mobile medical clinic was to walk around and find those in the most urgent need who looked the sickest or on the verge of collapsing, and escort them to the front of the line. I then assisted them through each stage of the clinic. Despite the circumstances, it was fulfilling to be able to offer immediate help and provide a source of hope. While guiding them through the clinic, I felt a connection as it became clear to them that their needs mattered to us and we saw the urgency of their situation. 

After attending to everyone requiring immediate medical attention, I started taking photos. I began with only photographing our USC group since I was hesitant to take pictures of locals in a sensitive medical environment. I was surprised when many people, adults and children alike, eagerly began asking me to take their photo and were continuously delighted by the result as they saw themselves in the images. Witnessing their joy and curiosity made me realize the profound impact of photography in capturing memories and preserving moments. Seeing how much it meant to those who welcomed and cherished the opportunity to be photographed provided me with a newfound appreciation for photography that I will carry with me into the future.