Vignettes
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Andros drives the old village bus that was lovingly restored by Casale Panayiotis, a family run hotel in the Troodos mountains. The bus is used to take guests on local tours, visiting beauty spots and businesses producing local products.
Casale Panayiotis, Troodos mountains, Cyprus.
Photos: © Marcus Perkins
With Tom Price and Aaron Koch
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Rosemary Makarutse with her baby Unity hiding behind her back. Now recovered, Rosemary was badly injured after being bitten on the leg by a snake whilst sleeping in her home. The effects of snakebites are often very serious and sometimes lethal, but traditionally attacks have been quite rare.
In recent years however, there has been a notable increase in attacks by snakes, particularly in and around homes, but experts are not entirely sure why. Some believe it could be a combination of reasons, including the destruction of snakes’ natural habitat bringing them more regularly into conflict with humans, and an increase in temperature making snakes more aggressive.
I met Rosemary at the first Affected Voices conference in Zimbabwe. Organised by TIBA (Tackling Infections for the Benefit of Africa), the meeting is the first of its kind following the Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The declaration included the statement that partners will work to ensure that people affected by NTDs are at the centre of NTD programmes and decision-making processes.
Whilst a snakebite is not technically a disease, it has been adopted into the NTD family of conditions because attacks by snakes disproportionately impact vulnerable communities.
Photographed for TIBA and Uniting to Combat NTDs, the portrait of Rosemary, and others in Zimbabwe, are intended to support ongoing advocacy work in the global campaign to eliminate neglected tropical diseases – with an initial launch on World NTD day in January 2025.
Affected Voices conference. Bindura, Zimbabwe.
Photo © Marcus Perkins
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Dara (Rachelle Dyanne 'Dara’ Bascara) was a model and a fiercely dedicated human rights activist who fought tirelessly to protect the rights of filipinos in the UK and overseas. Along with her campaigning and academic research into the psychology of oppression, she also involved herself in helping and encouraging her community during the toughest of times.
During the Covid pandemic, she delivered food by bike to filipinos who had become isolated after losing their jobs and were unable to return home. Earlier in 2013 and 2014 she campaigned for months to help communities in the Philippines rebuild their lives after swathes of the country had been shattered by Typhoon Haiyan.
On her journey to academia, those around her were quietly proud when in 2020, she finally completed her PhD thesis; Towards a Unified Theory of Oppression.
So it was terribly sad to learn that Dara’s life had been tragically cut short in March of 2021. Dara will surely be missed by the people she worked with, and by the people she committed herself to defend.
Photos © Marcus Perkins
With Nick Havas and Sarah Tabea Meier - Hoevermann.Note: These unedited photos have been made available online for Dara’s family and friends to find and download for personal use. No further permission is required.
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Dumila has been a healthcare professional for nearly 40 years, and the coordinator for the elimination of neglected tropical diseases since 2012. He operates in Lamu, Kenya’s most northerly coastal county bordering Somalia – an area some choose to avoid.
Neglected tropical diseases are disproportionately suffered by the poor, a point Dumila is acutely aware of. Poverty and injustice anger him, and his understanding of the challenges many face seems to drive him on. To witness Dumila operate in his community is to understand how deeply he cares. It also explains the depth of respect he receives from the people he serves.
Lamu, Coastal Region, Kenya.
Photo © Marcus Perkins
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Living a more traditional way of life, Gigis and Sotiris chat over the final olive harvest of the year. The olives will go to Casale Panayiotis, a family owned hotel and spa that sources most of its produce from local growers, breathing new life into the community.
Casale Panayiotis, Troodos mountains, Cyprus.
Photos: © Marcus Perkins
With Tom Price and Aaron Koch
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Paul Hughes is a living example that you’re never too old to pursue something new. Paul began his acting career at the age of 60, when he stepped onto the stage at the Rose Theatre in Kingston upon Thames. A decade on, his career has blossomed with appearances on stage, screen, and film. His performances have culminated in a number of accolades, including four acting awards for his lead performance in the film Doll#195, which has gone on to win 28 international awards across multiple categories.
Even though Paul is now a familiar face in the creative arts, he can still be found in cafés around Kingston’s historic market square, quietly enjoying a coffee and a good book. Despite his success, Paul remains grounded and quietly committed — not just to his own craft, but also to encouraging others to embrace theirs.
Paul’s journey is a reminder that the creative arts can and do focus beyond youth and beauty, to capture spirit, purpose and the ever evolving human story.
Charter Quay, Kingston upon Thames, UK.
Photo © Marcus Perkins
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Proud mum Gertrude Usaiwevhu with her son Munyaradzi. Gertrude is the leader of a group of volunteers who provide support to more than 500 orphaned children in her area.
“We visit all the villages, monitoring child-headed households, looking out for newly-orphaned children and watching for abuse or exploitation, which is common. The biggest challenge we face is identifying sources of food and school fees for these orphans because so many do not have any work or money.”
Sirewe village, Zimbabwe.
Photo: © Marcus Perkins
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Ace Japanese fighter pilot, Kaname Harada, fought in many of the major pacific aerial campaigns during WW2, including Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway. He still has the watch given to him by the Emperor for his flying skills, forever stuck at 3:26pm – the time he ditched into the sea. His plane had run out of fuel after his carrier, Soryu, was sunk by the Americans during the Battle of Midway. After the war, Harada became a kindergarten teacher and tirelessly devoted his life to peace, education and reconciliation until his death in 2016 aged 99.
Nagano, Japan.
Photo © Marcus Perkins