An estimated 2.8 million people were displaced following the 7.8 magnitude April 2015 earthquake in Nepal. With over 500,000 homes destroyed, affected families have been living in displacement camps ever since. The winter season & current fuel crisis in Nepal has added to the challenges of every internal refugee here.
I photographed this woman in Alchi Danda camp in the Dhading district 2 months ago.
Her energy seemed unwavering, her strength felt like that of a fortress. She drew me in.
As I post this, I wonder how she is. I wonder if she is still there; If her tarp which serves as home has kept out the cold at night.
Sometimes it feels as though the work I do, photographing & sharing stories with intentions for spreading awareness & affecting positive change, getting involved in organizations doing influential work, being present & loving for those in crisis...all of it sometimes feels like nothing when I look into these eyes and wonder if the cold in the camp got to be too much; If the wondering where her 'home' would be next became too overwhelming.
As the questions linger, so does a growing knowledge that the intent, form & purpose of my work is evolving. Even amidst sometimes feeling that my contributions may not be enough, I am eternally grateful to bear witness to all I have seen.
Even to sit in the presence of this fortress of a woman was a gift.