In 1999, I had the privilege of going to Africa and photographing for Northrise University Initiative. At the time, there was only one college in Zambia, and NUI was just getting the ball rolling to start a second one.

I spent two weeks photographing around the country, and more specifically, in Ndola, Zambia. The sights and sounds that I experienced (and was sometimes able to photograph) are still with me to this day. Someone told me before I went that “if you go to Africa once, you’ll definitely go back again”, and I can verify that it’s true. I’ve been back once, and have plans for visiting few more times.

While there, we spent time touring various schools, nurseries, and hospices. It was a truly humbling experience, and I was lucky to be able to hide behind my camera as scene after scene of unbelievable poverty and sickness unfolded before us.

One morning, as we toured a grammar school I spied these kids through a doorway. As the small group that I was with was being introduced to the teacher, I stayed in the back of the classroom and approached the table where these students were sitting. I smiled, and slowly raised my Nikon F3 to my eye. The one student in the middle kept his stare locked onto me, and I was able to make one exposure before the teacher demanded everyone’s attention back to the front of the classroom.

While this photo is simply a picture of a student in a school….I can’t help but see so much more in his eyes.

Thanx for listening.

AL