We were walking through the tent city in Champs de Mars last week when this woman popped out of this makeshift window they created for their shanty-home. She smiled for a picture, and then started to ask us what we were here to give her. This has been a major issue for journalists covering stories, as our interest in them, in their eyes, means that we are there to give them help.
Asking questions such as, “Do you wish the conditions in the camps changed?” or “Do you have enough food to live?” translate to, “How can we help the conditions in the camps?” and “I can give you food.” It’s tough, because you want to help, but that would make us part of the story, and not just documenters of it. At least that’s what we tell ourselves to make us feel better about what we do…
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