793 Not Forgotten

This little girl haunts me.  Hers is the first portrait in my series, The Innocents Project.  The blue flower on her paper hat is heavily glittered, but even that doesn't seem to make her smile, nor does having her picture taken.  I don't know her name, but I know that she lives in one of Lebanon's refuge camps,  Bourj El Chemall.  This particular camp was established in 1948 and is still in existence.  I do not know how dependable Wikipedia's estimate of 20,000 registered refugees is, but it is far and sadly too many.  She and thousands of others like her are being assisted by a partnership with ANERA (American Near East Refugee Assistance) and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), who are renovating preschools to provide early childhood education and emergency responses for the refugees from Syria. ANERA also assists in many other ways, including providing medical supplies and warm clothing to the refugees. 

For more information about ANERA and the good work they provide, please visit their web site:
www.ANERA.org.

"793 Not Forgotten"
acrylic - 12x12 in

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/diane-campion/793-not-forgotten/470011
dianecampion.blogspot.com