• Purchase a 5x7 image ($25) and provide 33 children with a one month supply of medicine.
• Purchase a 8x10 image ($35) and provide ongoing access to medical care for 6 people through the TRAX medical vehicle.

In fall 2012, 100cameras launched our partnership with the Russ Foundation in Madurai,India.  We are honored to join alongside their efforts bringing vital changes to the community through their children's home, community health services, and AIDS prevention and care clinics. The Children’s Home aims to provide food, shelter, education, and medicine to 36 children and has recently started integrating children who are infected with the deadly HIV virus into the home. Our 15 photographers live at the Children's Home.

Seemingly always encouraging one another during chores, meals, studying, and recreational activities, the home is truly a place of love. Between staff and the children, there is a mutual need for a family connection. The children often perform talent shows and are always learning the latest tamil dance or bollywood song. In spite of only having electricity a few hours a day and no hot water or soft beds, these children live their daily lives with much joy.  

100cameras has committed to honor the wishes of The Russ Foundation and not disclose the health and graphic family history of each child to the public. All in all amongst our photographers, 53% of the children have parents who had or have HIV, 33% of children are infected with HIV, 47% have lost both parents, and 53% have lost one parent.

Upon completion of our photo journalism course, survey results provided further insight that this opportunity positively impacted our photographers in a number of ways including improved self worth, problem solving skills, and a deeper understanding of their role in the world. There is one class session in particular that incorporates an activity where we share the previous project portfolios created by children living in other countries. Upon seeing the art of their “peers,” our India photographers expressed a new closeness to other individuals their age around the world, expanding their vision of a global community. They voiced that photography serves many different purposes in the world including documenting their own life as well as its role to "advance understanding across the world."

Why The Russ Foundation?

The Russ Foundation realizes the interrelatedness of the major issues in their community such as poverty, access to healthcare, AIDS prevention, and education. They provides a holistic range of programs that offer sustainable change for Madurai. The Project004 photography course will give children at the Russ Children's Home a means to share their unique stories through photography.

Home to 36 orphaned children that have been rescued from the sex industry or have lost parents to HIV, the Russ Orphanage is committed to giving these children the opportunity to pursue higher education or vocational training to makes a lasting impact on their future and thus, their community.

• Serves almost 3,000 of the sex workers in Madurai.
• Reaches over 85% of the Madurai population living in rural areas that are in greatest need of basic medical care.  
• Serves an estimated 1100 people affected by HIV within approximately 500 families that live on the outskirts of the Madurai District.   

Why India? 

• Approximately ⅓ of the world’s poor live in India. 
• Throughout India since 2006, crimes against children increased by 10.3%, and the procuration of minor girls for sexual exploitation increased 186.5%.

Why Madurai?

• Extreme poverty and lack of employment opportunities in Madurai have led to an increase of women and children that have been entered into the sex industry.
• There are 6,000 reported sex workers in Madurai.