Photo Exhibit Shows Life Through an Orphan's Eyes

Kelly Raudenbush did not know what would happen when she handed out 12 digital cameras to children living at a Chinese orphanage last October. She certainly did not expect to find hundreds of photographs worthy enough to frame and hang for a public exhibit.

“These were simple, point-and-click Samsung cameras we got for a deep discount at Costco before we left for China,” said Raudenbush. “They came back with amazing and beautiful pictures.”

The activity was part of a workshop led by Phoenixville photographer Ben Leaman at the orphanage in Shaanxi attended by 12 of the 300 orphans living there. Raudenbush, director of the Sparrow Fund, an adoption advocacy organization, brought 15 volunteers to the orphanage in October 2014.

It was also up to Leaman to comb through the hundreds of images to find 30 of the best to display at Friday night’s exhibit.

As guests of the year’s opening First Friday celebration take to the streets, Raudenbush hopes that visitors come by and look deep into the images hanging at 220 Bridge Street for Their Vision is Valuable, which will be open to the public from 6 to 10 p.m. The pictures show the world through a lens many have never before encountered.

“The workshops, all taught through interpreters, were more about theory, rather than how to use the cameras,” said Raudenbush. “One day, Ben showed them the beauty of shadows and how they can make an impact on the world. The kids then went out with the cameras and captured wonderful interpretations.”

At the end of the 11-day trip, Raudenbush and her 15 volunteers prepared a graduation ceremony for the students, handing out certificates of achievement and framed, hard copies of their best photos.

“There was one girl with cerebral palsy who had a wheelchair, but could walk with the help of braces,” said Raudenbuch. “When we called her name, she stood up out of her wheelchair and walked up to get her certificate. It was an amazing thing to witness as the other children waited patiently for her to come up.”

The trip, organized in conjunction with America World Adoption Agency, is an opportunity for volunteers to interact and provide help and companionship to the children living at the orphanage. For example, besides the educational sessions, Raudenbush also brought along five medical professionals to perform assessments of the children.

“This was our third annual trip,” said Raudenbush. “It took that long to build a lot of trust with the people that run the orphanage. They are very cautious about having outsiders there.”

Raudenbush and her husband, Mark, started the Sparrow Fund in 2011 as a resource for families trying to navigate the confusing and expensive decision to adopt a child. They experience how difficult and demanding the process can be when they chose that route to add to their three biological children. The Raudenbushes adopted their daughter, Lydia, when she was 13 months old, and she is now finishing up kindergarten in Phoenixville.

“Adoption can be very painstaking and stressful for families,” said Raudenbush. “We initially started the Sparrow Fund to help with one specific aspect, paying for doctors to provide pre-adoption advice when an agency offers a child for adoption. Many orphans, especially from foreign countries, have medical issues that potential parents don’t fully understand. The doctors give them a better idea of what kind of care would be needed and what the life expectancy might be, information that will help the decision-making process.”