Charitable Gift Giving

Torina’s World: A Child’s Life in Madagascar is a book that was originally self-published in 1997, but which has been officially released in 2007 with an interesting story of its own.

Parents for centuries have been lecturing their kids about “the hungry kids in Africa”. But those words are usually meaningless.

Photographer Joni Kabana changed all that with this book created in 1997, with photographs of the daily life of a then-eight year old girl named Torina. Her then-nine year old son helped her edit the images into a book and add simple text which showed the struggles of life in a remote mountainous village living in a small hut.  The book was an amazing way to remind kids in developed countries how blessed they are.

Joni returned to see Torina in 2007, still living in the same hut but with seven brothers. The book is being published again, this time with part of the proceeds helping Malagasy charities and funding for educational activities in Madagascar. And the little girl Torina herself whose story was told ten years ago is now on her way to being a doctor.