4 minute read
Charity Focus
Think People Think Story
Tommy Hatwell grew up near Tavistock but spent 15 years travelling the globe, before becoming a commercial photographer. He first went to Uganda in 2008; the strong connections he made with local people have frequently drawn him back, resulting in Think People Think Story and its lifechanging projects.
Advertisement
Initially, Tommy’s visits to Uganda focused around photographing the everyday lives of the people. During his 2017 trip, Tommy met David, a keen, young photographer from the village of Kyabirwa. Twenty minutes later David had a big camera round his neck and was documenting projects alongside Tommy. They worked together during Tommy’s next two trips, including two years of planning and realising ‘The Borehole’ photo, based on the evening ritual when local people ‘would come along from all directions, arriving with 1,2,3 or more yellow, plastic jerry cans ready to be pumped full of water from deep underground’. In 2019, the portrait of 37 children at the borehole in Kyabirwa was finally ready and Tommy returned to the small Ugandan village to show everyone the 2-meter-wide print. More creativity followed with the Dream Studio, which came about after Tommy met 4-year-old Mariam, wearing a jumper emblazoned with ‘Dream’ - the nickname stuck and a project evolved to create a photo studio of banana leaves. By 5pm a line of young people had formed for Tommy to take their portraits, while helper Afuwa recorded their name, age and dream for the future. In the summer of 2019, Tommy organised an exhibition in Tavistock Library, with The Borehole print, and children designed and wrote postcards to send to the Ugandan children in the image.
In February 2019, Tommy and David visited Acholi Quarter, a Kampala slum which was originally a camp for refugees fleeing from the LRA. They were there to meet and photograph the New Hope Dance Project group who use yoga and street dance to support the mental and physical health and wellbeing of both young and old. There they came across Ambrose and Morris in the group, who were working with organisations to help their community access medical support and food. Ambrose and Morris joined Tommy and David, for a few photo shoots, as a way to educate, and empower people – and in the process the four began to gel as a team.
In Acholi Quarter, Tommy had noticed lots of unappealing
For an extensive range of beds, mattresses and frames.
Delivered and set up in your bedroom. We can also take away your old bed!
The Sleepwell Project
chunks of foam which served as mattresses. He had the idea of buying a few new mattresses to create a studio backdrop for portrait photos, before gifting the mattresses to those taking part. After sharing the idea with the team, it quickly evolved into a larger collaborative project. Over the next eight months, the project took shape, with David, Ambrose, and Morris sending videos and images from Uganda, whilst Tommy worked on it in the UK. The team took on the name ‘Think People Think Story’ and in October 2019, they released The Sleepwell Project – people around the world were asked to make donations to pay for a mattress to be delivered to a Ugandan family; the photographic team in Uganda created a portrait of the family with the mattress and shared it with the supporter. Over three days in February 2020, Think People Think Story delivered 60 mattresses, 45 treated mosquito nets, as well as bed sheets, and blankets to 60 families in the Acholi Quarter, benefitting over 300 people. During the covid pandemic from March to December 2020, Think People Think Story mobilised two teams in Uganda to help families in need in two communities, delivering 33,756 bowls of life-sustaining food, 700 handmade masks and over 450 cartons of milk. Sleep is vital to function both mentally and physically, and sleep quality can be the difference between a good or bad day. In November 2022, the Think People Think Story team set out once again with a target of delivering 100 mattresses to two communities in Uganda. Tommy has also been working with Adventure Okehampton over the last two summers, and six staff members are helping deliver the Sleepwell Project 2022. All bedding items are purchased locally in Uganda with 100% of supporter’s donations going towards buying them.
For more information or if you would like to support the initiatives in Acholi Quarter, Kampala and Bujagali near Jinja, please go to thinkpeoplethinkstory.com or email thinkpeoplethinkstory@gmail.com
Expert advice on all fl ooring types including carpet, vinyl, Karndean, laminate and natural fl ooring.
All supplied and expertly fi tted.
