© Kelly Winslow

This is drawn from the exquisite and very powerful photo by *donaldsart - The Unanswered
Make sure to see the original and read the comments *donaldsart has posted

She is both the first child and African I have ever drawn; I wanted her skin tones to be perfect; both the deep shades and highlights.

It was originally going to be a poster to promote a school fundraiser for - Water For Our World, yet I was unable to finish it in time so now it may be used for thank you notes. I was looking all over the internet and dA for touching photos that would really capture the esence of some of the worst conditions in Africa and this picture did it. It is of a child outside of a soup kitchen in Mozambique. As soon as I saw her, her eyes pulled me in. So deep and sorrowful, I had to be so careful finishing the them because they are what need to be seen. This poor child, tightly clinging to a shirt, of whom it belongs I do not know, carries such a power beneath her deep black eyes. She is so beautiful, yet so emaciated. I feel it is so important to capture her every feature, from her frail arms to those eyes the drew me in so deeply. The fundrasier was soo important to me and I felt I had to use my art in some way to contribute. I also, along with my family donated more than 50 dollars to the cause and my mum has now decided, because of my picture, that we should support a child in Africa through a program called Feed The Children. As soon as we get the picture of the child we are supporting I hope to draw that one as well. It breaks my heart to know that such suffering exists in the world while so many are rich enough to own multi-million dollar clothes and houses yet do nothing to really help others! If everyone would just do something, anything the problems we could solve could be innumerable!

Together, our school raised over 3000 dollars for Water for Our World with a coin drive and that was with only 3 major classes donating the bulk of the money! Our funds were matched by several other companies and we now are building multipul wells in Sierra Lione! I can't imagine not having a commodity as important as clean water! This child means the world to me because of all the things she has suffered and may still be suffering. I unfortuantely don't know if she is currently alive as The Unanswered has informed me of that.

I encourage you all, if you have the money, to donate to any one of the following links. They benifit different causes in Africa from poverty to children who have been displaced to water.
Help those who cannot help themselves!

Water for Our World
Invisible Children
Feed The Children.

Thanks!

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WIP: [link]