PHOTOGRAPHER Sarah Hughes recently spent a week in Bolivia, her initial aim to capture the crisis faced by the Third World nation as a means of making the world more aware.

The experience so moved her, however, that on her return to Bermuda she started a donor drive. Her journey, made with the international charity Save the Children, left her convinced that impoverished Bolivians don't stand a fighting chance without outside assistance.

"Whilst there I took a zillion photographs and probably have nearly as many stories to tell," she said of her trip to South America's poorest country.

"The people were extremely poor, but so kind and welcoming. The children were incredibly bright and beautiful. The conditions they live in however are horrendous. There is immense poverty in this region and much help is needed if these children are ever going to be given a chance at life."

The photographer volunteered her services with Save the Children and spent July 6-12 travelling with a group of its delegates, documenting the areas visited in hopes that the images might later be used to raise money to fund the charity's work there.

From La Paz, the nation's capital, the group travelled through Isla del Sol and on to Oruro, visiting the programmes run by Save the Children.

"The issues facing children in countries in Africa and Asia often make front page news, but there are equally pressing needs facing children in the remote areas of Bolivia where Save the Children works," said a spokesperson for the charity. "The purpose of the visit was to draw attention to the needs of Bolivian children and raise support for Save the Children's programmes in that country. Those on the trip, including Sarah, got to meet the children and families involved in Save the Children's programmes, and see how their financial support could help change the lives of these children today and for future generations. The visit was a successful starting of these children today and for future generations. The visit was a successful starting point in engaging those on the trip to be long-term advocates for these children.

"We were thrilled to have Sarah's professional eye capture photos of our work. Sarah plans to hold a fundraising event where her photos will be exhibited. The exhibit will offer Bermudians a chance to visit some of Save the Children's Bolivia programmes in their own backyard. We hope the photos, along with Sarah's stories from her visit, will help raise awareness about the needs of children in Bolivia and the successes that our work is helping to accomplish. For example, in terms of our work in education in the remote areas of Bolivia ? Save the Children in its State of the World's Mothers 2005 report compared 71 developing countries on gains in girls' education during the past decade, and Bolivia ranked first in terms of progress in getting more girls in school."

Based in the United States, Save the Children has as its aim to effect change for kids around the world. As a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, the charity works in partnership with 27 organisations around the world.

Together their efforts give underprivileged children in more than 100 countries options for the future. They work with communities and local governments to help the kids stay in school and ensure they receive adequate food, protection and healthcare.

Added the charity spokesperson: "Bolivia has a total population of 8.3 million of which an estimated 3.3 million ? or 40 per cent ? are malnourished. One in five children under the age of five is malnourished and the growth of nearly one in three children is moderately or severely stunted. Over 34 of every 1,000 new-born die within 28 days after birth, and infant mortality is 67 per 1,000 births. Only 36 per cent of children finish eighth grade, and only 20 per cent of all young people finish high school.

"Many families lack access to health care and cooking. Nearly three-fourths of the Bolivian population lives below the poverty line and an estimated 32 per cent live in absolute poverty. As a result, children growing up in this large, sparsely-populated South American country face tremendous challenges in their everyday lives and severe impediments to their healthy development and future success."

Save the Children's programmes monitor kids lives from birth. More than one million children and mothers are estimated to benefit from the Saving Newborn Lives programme; three separate schemes address child nutrition, primary education and adolescent life skills. In addition, two projects provide for wider needs ? household access to food and the production of agriculture.

Ninety per cent of all monies raised for Save the Children go directly toward its charitable schemes. Successful as they are, huge pockets of need still exist. According to Ms Hughes, it's with this in mind that she is appealing to Bermudians to lend their assistance.

"One of the many projects we visited was a school in Oruro, an extremely poor city situated in the southern Altiplano. Here, Save the Children run a programme whereby a potential donor can sponsor a young child from the age of five.

"It costs just US $25 per month and helps to provide the basics to keep a child healthy and educated. It is an extremely well-run project and all donors are provided with full information and photographs of their sponsored child. The child is also encouraged to write to his or her sponsors and in return, the sponsor is welcome to write to their child and send small gifts if they would like."

The photographer added that she was now sponsoring a child and was mindful of the positive impact it might have on her own young son, Fyn.

"Not only will this help a child but it will also provide Fyn with an awareness of other children around the world and how their lives are so different," she said. "Some of the other people on the trip have also done the same thing and we will all encourage our own children to become involved with our sponsored children in Bolivia.

"I cannot tell you how much it changes their lives once someone comes forward to support these children. You really will be making a huge difference to one small child's life if you can help."

q For more information on Save the Children visit www.savethechildren.org. For a direct link on sponsorship, visit www.savethechildren.org/sponsorship/index.asp?stationpub=hpbasbutton.