For 1 year, I provided organic social media marketing and design services for Outreach for Nazareth Orphanage, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that exists to provide at-risk for human trafficking children a permanent home, education and care 6.1 miles across the U.S. Mexican border in Tecate.

May 27th, 2023 marked a special event: their capital campaign, Girls Everywhere Matter, raised over $100,000 to build a brand new dormitory that would house up to 50 more young girls.

The need for new website and social media content could no longer be ignored, but there was one problem: Our in-house photographer would not be able to make it to the event on such short notice.

So I spoke up, went out on a limb, and offered my own photography experience instead.

3 weeks later, I flew out to San Diego, traveled across the border, and captured the entire ceremony and events that day.

I was able to meet the Sisters who care for the children, and it's obvious that they each carry a fierce love in their hearts, identical to that of a mother's, for these children. The children themselves are kind and curious, and surprisingly happy. The orphanage itself is a very clean and warm space, but lacks utilities such as clean water for showers and space for more children. However, they are not lacking in compassion at OFNO, and that is seen through the vibrant laughter of the children, the bright culture the Sisters share, as well as the beautiful grounds that the Sisters tend to daily.

I look back on this experience with no regret, and am currently expanding my content photography knowledge to pursue travel & marketing more often.