Amiran White

Photographer

The Power of Education

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Location: Oregon, USA

Nationality: British

Biography: I was born and raised in the United Kingdom, but began my photojournalism career in North America stringing for The Associated Press in Portland, Ore. From there I spent 10-years working as a staff photographer on various daily... MORE

Manjula, 12, practices piano in the main school building.

Children play after lessons at Shanti Bhavan.

Students celebrate a basketball...fter an inter-class tournament.

Students celebrate a basketball win after an inter-class tournament.

The school is situated in the m... other than birds and flowers.

The school is situated in the middle of the countryside, with few distractions other than birds and flowers.

Students brush their teeth before bedtime.

As well as their academic studi...bysitting the younger children.

As well as their academic studies, all the students must complete various ‘chores’ or ‘community service’ daily, from sweeping their dorms, to weeding the gardens, hanging laundry and babysitting the younger children.

Dr. Abraham George speaks with ...to half the year at the school.

Dr. Abraham George speaks with some of the students at his school. George lives in the states now, but spends close to half the year at the school.

Mahalakshmi Keshavan, 16, dream...family live better.”

Mahalakshmi Keshavan, 16, dreams of being a lawyer. “My father’s a mason, my mother is home with my younger brother- we are very poor. As a lawyer I could help the poor, give free services, and help my family live better.”

Students study in Chemistry class.

Students put socks out to dry d...mp;quot;chores" times.

Students put socks out to dry during "chores" times.

Shilpa Raj, 15, left, gets read...s after 6-months at the school.

Shilpa Raj, 15, left, gets ready to see her father for the holidays after 6-months at the school.

Students bow to the school afte...ching dance, music and theater.

Students bow to the school after giving an evening dance performance. Volunteers from the Broadway based ASTEP program, give their time at the school teaching dance, music and theater.

Students use candlelight to stu...l is cutting back where it can.

Students use candlelight to study their homework. Usually the generators would kick in after an electric outage, but with the current economic climate, the school is cutting back where it can.

Students play with sparklers th...from the Indian holiday Diwali.

Students play with sparklers that were left over from the Indian holiday Diwali.

Students head to their classes.

Sindhu Subramani, 16, visits ho...egree in environmental studies.

Sindhu Subramani, 16, visits home during the Christmas break. "I will help my mother and the village when I have a good job." She plans on getting a degree in environmental studies.

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Thumbnail of Manjula, 12, practices piano in the main school building.

Thumbnail of Children play after lessons at Shanti Bhavan.

Thumbnail of Students celebrate a basketball _after an inter-class tournament.

Thumbnail of The school is situated in the mi_s other than birds and flowers.

Thumbnail of Students brush their teeth before bedtime.

Thumbnail of As well as their academic studie_abysitting the younger children.

Thumbnail of Dr. Abraham George speaks with s_ to half the year at the school.

Thumbnail of Mahalakshmi Keshavan, 16, dreams_ family live better.”

Thumbnail of Students study in Chemistry class.

Thumbnail of Students put socks out to dry du_amp;quot;chores" times.

Thumbnail of Shilpa Raj, 15, left, gets ready_ys after 6-months at the school.

Thumbnail of Students bow to the school after_aching dance, music and theater.

Thumbnail of Students use candlelight to stud_ol is cutting back where it can.

Thumbnail of Students play with sparklers tha_ from the Indian holiday Diwali.

Thumbnail of Students head to their classes.

Thumbnail of Sindhu Subramani, 16, visits hom_degree in environmental studies.

Public Story

The Power of Education

Date of Work Nov 2009 - Mar 2010

Updated May 2020

Location Baliganapalli

Shanti Bhavan, meaning 'Haven of Peace', is a residential school in south India. The free school offers a select group of children from India's lowest caste- the untouchables- the best education possible, enabling the students to dream of becoming doctors and astronauts rather than the rag-picker and cleaner jobs they would have been destined for. The school has also given the children a rare opportunity to create their own community away from the prejudices of their society.
Dr. Abraham George, from New York, started the project through his belief that education can change people’s lives more than anything else.
“It is something,” said George, “that can be given and never taken away- the power of education.”

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