
Many of us see our lives as being fairly normal.  We don’t appreciate the opportunities we have, such as going to school, living in a large, comfortable house, eating whenever we are hungry (and often even when we are not) or any of the other everyday things that we do virtually without thinking.  However, sometimes it is important to stop and realize that our lives are anything but normal.  In fact, the comforts and security that we are fortunate enough to have in the United States and other developed countries is by no means “normal” to most of the world’s population.  It is estimated that 80% of the world lives in poverty and that 80% of the world spends $10 or less a day (Shah).  This level of poverty, along with regional wars and religious and racial persecution, has resulted in an epidemic of malnutrition in many parts of the world.  Approximately 12.9% of the world’s population is considered malnourished, living in situations that prevent them from eating any food for days or more (Cousins).  That is one out of every nine people!  How is it possible that we take our gifts and good fortune for granted when so many people in this world are struggling simply to feed themselves?  I have been blessed to grow up in a privileged family.  We live in a large home on a golf course and I attend a wonderful university of my choosing at a cost of over $40,000 a year.  I like to think that I appreciate the comforts and privileges in my life, but after seeing and thinking about this photo, it is clear to me that I lack a true appreciation for the massive differences between my life and those of many people throughout the world who are far less fortunate than I.  So, what is it about this image that sends to me such a strong message?  For me, it is the importance and significance of a helping hand reaching out to those less fortunate.  

The first thing I noticed in the picture were the two hands.  These hands fill the majority of the photograph.  The hands draw your attention to the point where you initially don’t notice anything else in the picture.  What can we learn or interpret from the hands?  Initially, there is almost a physical response to the small size of the undernourished hand.  It almost hurts to look at it.  It is so small and fragile that, although we speculate that we are looking at a child’s hand, we question whether it truly can be the hand of a human being.  The weak-looking fingers and the unnaturally thin arm almost make it look like the leg of a bird.  It makes you question how a child’s body can be so unhealthy.  It is very clear that the poor condition of the child is the result of being near death because of lack of proper nutrition.  The adult hand that holds the child’s is the hand of a well-nourished, healthy male.  This is the missionary mentioned in the title of the photograph who is visiting the area of the sick child to help in any way he can.  By holding the child’s hand, the missionary is providing comfort and support, both physically and spiritually.  But what strikes me most emotionally is the way they touch hands.  The man is extremely gentle.  He does not grip the child’s hand, but offers his hand to support the child in a way that can make the child feel like everything is going to be okay.  The two hands in this picture create conflicting emotions of sadness and hope.  The ability to create hope in a time and place of great sadness motivates people to act in a positive way.  The photo should inspire people that if they do act, they can make an important and positive difference.

Although the child is a central figure in the picture, he or she is not the only person suffering from this horrible situation.  Others are starving as well.  As you look more closely at the picture, you notice that other people are surrounding the two primary subjects in the photograph.  You can see multiple sets of legs and shadows.  The people in the background are not wearing shoes and they are very thin.  This suggests that the suffering is wide spread and not an isolated incident.  If you were to want to make a difference, this single, small child wouldn’t be the only person affected; you would be helping many more people.  Nearly 800 million people in the world lack the nutrition necessary to live a healthy life (Cousins).  The way they surround the two people holding hands also has a meaning to me; they are standing united during a difficult time.  These people also require assistance, but they stand back and do not crowd the missionary.  They allow the missionary to provide comfort first to the child.  This child’s hand may represent more than just this one individual.  It may represent the assistance being provided to the other people in the background that can be seen and those who may also be present but are not visible in the photograph.  This child represents one-ninth of the world!  This picture serves an important role by forcing people of privilege, people like me to see how imperfect the world is and how we might make a difference if we get more involved.  If more people learn of this issue plaguing many areas of the world, maybe they will get involved and hopefully play a role in positive changes.  The 20% of the world population above the poverty line (Shah) must strive to combine its resources to fight famine and help the less fortunate.

Another focal point of the image is the use of shadow. Everyone in the photograph is creating a shadow.  To me, this serves as a symbol for the forgotten souls who also are starving but have not been reached by helpful hands.  These individuals may have be forgotten, but they are not lost forever.  The shadows are still visible and this should tell people there is still time to turn things around.  But the shadows show another side to the picture.  They show the people are still alive and ready to be fought for, but it won’t be easy.

Every aspect of this visual text screams “help me”!  It also suggests that help can come in very simple ways, such as a supportive hand to hold another.  Poverty is a pandemic that is unlikely to go away on its own.  It requires the sacrifice of those of us with resources.  The beauty  of this, which is represented in this photograph, is that even simple gestures, if everyone contributes, will begin to have an impact.  This picture inspires such hope.  Not only to those in need, but also to those who might not appreciate that their small contributions can make a difference.  We all have seen pictures of starving people, many of which use the faces of famished children to send messages, but those pictures can have an unexpected result by suggesting a message of hopelessness.  This picture suggests that small gestures, whether it is a small financial donation or simply holding the hand of someone in need, can make a big difference and inspire hope in all of us. 
