Alexandra (para cualquiera que lea esto que no sea sudafricano) es un suburbio de Johannesburgo que abarca 6,91 km cuadrados y es el hogar de aproximadamente 180.000 personas. El ingreso familiar promedio en Alex es de R800 / $55 por mes, así que es la mayor área de pobreza de África del sur, y la vida es bastante difícil para muchas personas. En la mayoría de los hogares de Alex viven al menos cuatro personas y también en la mayoría de los hogares tienen perros.
Dados los bajos niveles de ingresos de los hogares de Alex ¿crees que los perros son directamente abandonados y maltratados? Pues no.Trabajo estrechamente con la SPCA de Sandton que proporciona educación de bienestar animal y cuidado veterinario en forma de clínicas móviles en Alexandra cada tres meses. El programa de clínicas móviles ofrece vacunas, desparasitación, tratamiento contra pulgas y cuidado de la salud de los animales de Alex gratis, por lo que es un servicio vital para la comunidad. Del enorme séquito de 350 perros que pasan por la clínica móvil, vemos entre 5 y 10 perros que están seriamente desatendidos o mal. La gran mayoría están bien cuidados y son considerados como importantes miembros de la familia.
En la clínica móvil en febrero, me fabriqué una cabina para fotos y hice retratos de los residentes del Alex y sus perros que llegaron a por sus vacunas y controles sanitarios. Es más fácil relacionarse con las fotografías cuando sabes un poco acerca de las personas de la foto, dónde viven y por qué son fotografiadas. Estas imágenes formarán parte de una exposición fotográfica que se celebra en Johannesburgo el 18 de agosto de 2016.
Publicado en BoredPanda
Alexandra (for any none South Africans reading this) is a suburb in Johannesburg spanning 6.91 square kms and is home to approximately 180,000 people. The average household income in Alex is in the region of R800/$55 per month, so whilst it isn’t the most poverty stricken area in South Africa, life is pretty tough for many people. Most homes in Alex have at least four people living in them and most of the households in Alex have dogs.
Given the low income levels of households in Alex you’d think the dogs are neglected and unhappy right? Wrong. I work closely with the Sandton SPCA who provide animal welfare education and veterinary care in the form of mobile clinics in Alexandra every three months. The mobile clinic programme provides vaccinations, de-worming, flea treatment and health care for the animals of Alex for free, so it is a vital service for the community. Out of a huge turnout of 350 dogs per mobile clinic, we see between 5 and 10 dogs that are seriously neglected or unwell. The vast majority are well cared for and are seen as important members of the family.
At the last mobile clinic in February, I set up a photo booth area and shot portraits of the Alex residents and their dogs who came along for vaccinations and health checks. I wanted to put names to the faces who visit (collecting names and contact details in the chaos was a challenge) and also gift each person with a photo of themselves and their dog/s. It’s far easier to relate to photographs when you know a bit about the person in the picture, where they live and why they are being photographed. These images will form part of a photographic exhibition being held in Johannesburg on 18th August 2016.
Alexandra (for any none South Africans reading this) is a suburb in Johannesburg spanning 6.91 square kms and is home to approximately 180,000 people. The average household income in Alex is in the region of R800/$55 per month, so whilst it isn’t the most poverty stricken area in South Africa, life is pretty tough for many people. Most homes in Alex have at least four people living in them and most of the households in Alex have dogs.
Given the low income levels of households in Alex you’d think the dogs are neglected and unhappy right? Wrong. I work closely with the Sandton SPCA who provide animal welfare education and veterinary care in the form of mobile clinics in Alexandra every three months. The mobile clinic programme provides vaccinations, de-worming, flea treatment and health care for the animals of Alex for free, so it is a vital service for the community. Out of a huge turnout of 350 dogs per mobile clinic, we see between 5 and 10 dogs that are seriously neglected or unwell. The vast majority are well cared for and are seen as important members of the family.
At the last mobile clinic in February, I set up a photo booth area and shot portraits of the Alex residents and their dogs who came along for vaccinations and health checks. I wanted to put names to the faces who visit (collecting names and contact details in the chaos was a challenge) and also gift each person with a photo of themselves and their dog/s. It’s far easier to relate to photographs when you know a bit about the person in the picture, where they live and why they are being photographed. These images will form part of a photographic exhibition being held in Johannesburg on 18th August 2016.
