Maia Pelleg, now a first year law student at Duke University, enthusiastically embraced Dog Meets World while volunteering as a Kiva Fellow in Ghana last spring. This picture is of Elizabeth a leader of her community microfinance group. She operates a small market kiosk from which she sells paint. Elizabeth is 65-years-old and continues to provide for her family, including her grandchildren’s school fees. She was thrilled to have this picture. Dog Meets World honors all the workers of the world.

Itza (seen lower right) is a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Itza volunteered at an orphanage called San Nektario Hogar Para Ninos. She said “This hogar is special. Instead of the typical orphanage that acts as a temporary home for the kids, this hogar expects to keep the kids until they are 18. Also, these kids aren’t only from the streets as the vast majority of them came from abusive homes. None of them kept any pictures they might have had from their childhoods, so a little playdate with Foto of Dog Meets World was very special. This little girl, would not let go of Foto, and constantly asked to have his picture taken. It was great to see the happiness Foto brought.”

Rhia is a student in the school of International Service at American University . She loved practicing Dog Meets World while home in India as she continued to add real world experiences to her classroom learning. She’ll be interning for Dog Meets World this fall. Welcome!

Rhia commented:

These children barely needed an introduction. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the most joyful and lovable bunch of kids who warmed up to Foto just as quickly as they did to me. Their bright smiles and energy made for an exciting hour of photo-taking and fun.

Rhia just back from India is a junior at American University in Washington DC. She said:

Smiles really are contagious. By the end of my visit, this little girl and Foto, the mascot of Dog Meets World were the best of friends. It was not long before the other children followed her lead and lined up to have their photos taken. This one was taken at a crèche (preschool) in my home city in India. Most of these children come from poor homes in the area.

If you are unable to make the date, please consider donating under Participate! Thank you & hope to see everyone.

A junior at American University in Washington DC, Rhia took Dog Meets World to this daycare in her hometown city of Chandigarh while home this summer. Rhia describes that the children’s parents are mostly working women from nearby villages and slums. Rhia writes:

It takes an experience like Dog Meets World to make you realize the power of small things. Handing these children their first photos was truly a heartwarming experience. This picture in particular is beautiful because it captures the children in their natural state. These siblings spent a good long minute examining their photos discussing where they would display them. For me, it was both fascinating and rewarding to see just how much joy they got from the experience.

Nothing like having a professional photographer as a Dog Meets World phoDOGrapher to get really cool pictures. Foto the dog was a big hit!

See Patrick’s latest video of his volunteer mission to Kenya with Global Roots here. Dog Meets World is thrilled that Patrick brought the Dog Meets World photo sharing project to HIV orphans as he believes “they more than any other children they need support”. Thanks Patrick for your compassion!