Shy Boy

Soft pastel on sanded paper.
Size: 12″ x 12″

While on a trip to Ethiopia with Tearfund Canada, I had the privilege of visiting several Village Savings Groups. I met this boy at one of the groups where his mother was a member. While we listened to the amazing stories of transformation in the lives of these members and their families because of the VSG, I noticed this boy looking over at me. Each time our eyes met, he smiled and then quickly looked away. Before our visit was over, I found out that because of the Village Savings Group, his mother now is able to afford to send him and all his siblings to school. I asked him if i could take his photo and was given permission. He was still quite shy until I showed him the image on my phone. When he saw himself, his eyes went wide and his face lit up with a huge smile.