CURRENT MISSION

Travel the world and document the human rights injustices, women and children are living under. My goals are to bring education and awareness. To tell the stories of people who's rights have been violated due to gender, religion, race or sexuality.

ABOUT ME

I worked as a wedding photographer for many years in the US Virgin Islands. I have now relocated to the Washington DC area, to be more active in human rights issues for women and children. Documenting what I have witnessed, and bringing awareness through images. I meditate, do not push myself on others. I respect and honor others as I want to be. I am active with many NGO's. I have 2 children in Rwanda that I have taken out of orphanages and supporting their education. I started Alcoholic Anonymous in Rwanda, after the genocide in 1994 many people died of alcoholism, trying to forget their pain. I believe education is the key to eliminating ignorance. I have traveled a lot already and want to continue this journey. I am a member of the National Press Photographers Association, International Freelance Photographers Association, and other photographic Orgs. I have done work and sponsored women through Women for Women International. I sponsor 4 women a year. I have donate to Keep a Child Alive, and pay for the medicine for AIDS, for children. I was inducted into the International Freelance Photographers Hall of Fame for Photography Achievements in Humanity.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe we all have a story to tell and it is important to tell it and leave it for the next generation. This is the way we change our world into a world of acceptance of others and understand our differences. Violence must stop, raping women, children and men as a weapon of war must stop. Education and schools must be built so children have a choice. I want to be a part of the change, for a peaceful international community. I believe all problems have a solution, and it does not have to be violence.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm not sure yet. I would love to photograph and tell peoples stories.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

None with Couch surfing. I have always stayed with people on my many travels, and I feel it is the best way to connect with the reality of environment, instead of hotels, which I don't want to spend the money on. I would rather give a child an education or a family money for their immediate needs.

Interests

Travel, photography, film, people, reading, writing, exercise, yoga, philosophy, meditation, music, eating healthy, different cultures, different religions, other artists.

• writing
• photography
• documentaries
• education
• environment
• human rights
• exercise
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• traveling
• blogging
• music
• surfing
• teaching
• freelancing
• medicine
• military science
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

Nelson Mandela "Long Walk to Freedom", The Power of One,
Frieda, Half the Sky, Three Cups of Tea, Inception, Spring Summer Fall Winter Spring, Ghandi, Bandit Queen,
Land of a Thousand Hills, Dalai Lama "My Land My People",

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

A 40 some year old woman write her name for the first time in her life, the look on her face was priceless, she finally had an identity. The smile on a 7 year old child soldier abducted by militia groups in E. Congo. Now in a trauma center, he didn't speak or show expression. When I took photos of other people in the center, then gently addressed him and took his photograph and showed him, he smiled, the first expression in 2 weeks since his arrival. The Power of Photography is life changing.

Teach, Learn, Share

I did a short 5 minute documentary in the E. Congo. It's on You Tube called "Congo Women Secrets Unveiled", I have 7 hours of footage. My blog is very informative www.sonya-melescu.blogspot.com
Living and traveling is the best education I have ever gotten.

•