I returned from my photo trip to Bangladesh a few weeks ago. Actually it was a combination with giving a Bangladeshi friend the opportunity to visit his family and ill father for the first time after 7 years since he moved to Malaysia to work as a landscape worker. It was a great trip and soon I will be posting some photographs on my website.
 

In all my photo travels here in South East Asia I have met many people that live on the edge of society, struggling with poverty, living conditions and health issues. It has made me much more aware of my individual social responsibility. That means if people sincerely ask me for help and I believe it to be a good cause, then I will try to help. Simply because if there is a chance you can make a difference to someone's life, then there is not a single reason why you shouldn't.
 

For 8 days I stayed at my friend's family in the small village of Balaborhati, in the very north of Bangladesh. While I was there, I went to a local school to make photographs. I found children sitting on a clay floor, without any desks or benches. To make a long story short, the teachers asked me if I could help by providing them with new desks. Since I had the experience of doing a similar project in Cambodia in 2010, I promised to collect money for 60 school desks that would be bought from a local supplier. The agreement with the local supplier is that I will make a 50% down payment once I have 60 sponsors. The local supplier will then commence the work. In April 2014 I will return to Bangladesh to collect the desks for delivery to the school and pay the remaining 50%.
 

All your contributions go for 100% in the desks. All other expenses (e.g. travel) are borne by myself. If you would like to help these children by sponsoring a desk, please get in touch with me ("wil<dot>thimister<at-sign>gmail<dot>com").