Morocco
This photo was taken on February 9th, 2014, in a Berber village during a sports day at the local high school. During the event, another volunteer and myself were put in charge of activities for all the youth under the age of 10. Right before the game started, I ran around the circle of children and gave all of them a high five to get them a little more relaxed. They laughed, I laughed, and we were finally ready to have a little fun. The five youth in this photograph were among the most timid of the group and chose to watch the activities and soccer matches instead of participate. Their bodies and giggles show their true age, but the look in their eyes reveals a maturity only known to those who have seen a challenging life. These youth changed my service by redefining why I became a volunteer. It is in their eyes that I realized service is about the little moments; the ones where I can make kids feel like kids in the simple of act of playing and laughing.