I’ll be doing a full post and video next week about my extraordinary trip to PNG as an ambassador for Vicks Road To Relief program. It was life-changing. But I wanted to give you a sneak peak at the photos because they tell a story in themselves. Our photographer on the trip was an incredibly talented 22 year old guy called Conor Ashleigh (his website is here and he’s done a stunning black and white slideshow called Young Life Is Precious which you should take a look at).
Here’s what you need to know before you look at these pics: pneumonia kills more than 2 million children under 5 in developing countries every year. Vicks Road To Relief is a campaign that aims to immunise 2 million kids this year in these countries against measles which is the leading cause of pneumonia. You can help in two ways:
1. Buy any Vicks product marked ‘road to relief’ to help your own family fight colds and coughs this winter and Vicks will immunise one child for every pack you buy.
2. Become a friend of the Vicks Road To Relief Facebook page. One click = one immunisation. It’s that simple.
Meanwhile, take a look at Conor’s photos……
oh mia, stunning photos. you should be so proud.
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Is there anyway we can do fundraising for this cause? Thanks
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Mia you look so at ease and comfortable with these beautiful people – just like a young girl
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Gorgeous photo’s Mia. Fantastic initiative.
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Just beautiful photos Mia… and here I was feeling sorry for myself because I’m turning 41 tomorrow! Thank you for sharing.
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Stunning. Just stunning.
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Stepping out of our comfort zone is never easy. Having the choice to step in and out again is a privilege. Thank you Mia for raising our awareness and giving your heart and time for a great cause. Going onto FB now.
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Mia, I won’t for one minute pretend that I don’t enjoy the celebrity related posts you put up on this blog site but this one had so much more to offer us all as readers – the smiling faces of those children, who get by with so little of what we consider necessary… well it was truly moving and not the least bit overwhelming. You are doing a great thing with this… coincidentally it was only last night at my wits end with this flu/tonsilitis that I scrubbed my feet, rubbed Vicks all over them, put them in socks and hoped that they did me some good.
Well this morning I feel no better physically but at least purchasing the Vicks did some good. As Georgie Parker said on the 7pm project – the parents there are so grateful for being able to get their children immunised – isn’t it interesting how different immunisation is perceived in PNG to Australia? Well done again Mia, i’m off to rub some more Vicks into my feet…
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Hey Mia, read your story on Meshel Laurie’s blog. Sounds amazing, and I am really looking forward to hearing more!
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Just clicked on the FB link, what a wonderful way for Vicks to build their profile with these much-needed immunisations. I hadn’t thought about Vicks since I was a kid, but now I’ll buy it just IN CASE I get a cold, lol.
Those children are so beautiful
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Just beautiful
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Incredibly shallow and superficial I know, and I haven’t even read the article or looked at the photos, but…
Mia, you look absolutely gorgeous in the photograph on the main page that links to this. Just thought I’d put it out there.
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Mia, these pics are amazing. What a wonderful opportunity – looking forward to hearing more. I will definitely be stocking up on Vicks!
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fantastic, i had no idea of the conditions in the health centres in PNG thanks for opening my eyes!
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Good on ya! great cause! great pics!
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After all the discussion, emotion, and upset around immunisation in rich countries like ours, it is such a journey into a different world to see what it is like when that little jab can save your child’s life. The gratefulness in the mother’s eyes who hugs you Mia before her child is immunized! She knows EXACTLY how she is protecting her child, because she will have seen the heartwrenching possible consequences of not having that protetion, first hand.
beautiful photos. Thank you.
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Thank you for bringing this to our attention Mia. Well done you! Going straight to the facebook page now x
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Wow. Amazing shots. What a great thing to do Mia.
(P.S. The link to photographer’s site is broken.)
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Thanks Simone, fixed now – take a look, the pics are amazing.
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Thank you for sharing Mia and well done for highlighting this issue.
The photos are wonderful.
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Onya Mia. Good on you for going and raising awareness.
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Crying
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Wow, that must have been quite a trip!
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So what part of being an ambassador actually achieves something or benefits directly, the kids? Or is this, once again, a celebrity do-good promo?
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Come on now Gig, I’m a card carrying cynic but even I can get on board here. Raising awareness is doing something. And this raises awareness on several fronts, of the Vicks pledge to fund vaccinations of kids against pneumonia, of the reality of the lives of the kids in PNG and makes us a little more aware of just how good we have it here.
Does that ‘fix’ the problem? Of course not. But doing something, is better than doing nothing. Surely?
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Ok – I’ve taken some breaths and I think maybe I was too defensive.
I do know what you mean Gig. I understand your cynicism.
I admit to thinking the same thing when I’ve seen pictures of some celebrity with some starving kids.
But.
I think it’s also true that it can be easy to just switch off about all the problems in the world. Sometimes they just feel too hard or too the same. Sometimes it takes someone you ‘know’ or recognise to give you an entry point into a problem like the issue of 2 million kids in developing countries dying of pneumonia every year, many of whom got the disease because they weren’t immunised against measles because their parents couldn’t afford it. Or because it wasn’t available.
In terms of why I was chosen, you’d have to ask Vicks and UNICEF but the truth is that I’m not a ‘celebrity’ ambassador for this campaign. That’s Georgie Parker.
I am actually what Vicks have called a ‘grassroots ambassador’ which sits far more comfortably with me because it refers to my ability to spread the word via Mamamia and social media.
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Gig – would the 100,000+ Mamamia readers have known about the Vicks Road To Relief program had I not been an ambassador and gone to see for myself the work being done by UNICEF and Vicks to immunise these kids for free?
Would my Twitter followers have known to click on the Facebook page or bought a Vicks product and provided a free immunisation for a child in a developing country?
Would people who have seen these photos and will read my blog post and watch the video known that in PNG, a country just a few hours from here, there are children who don’t even have basic health care let alone toys and education?
I wonder.
This so isn’t about me. I’m just the messenger. I am neither brave nor special to have done this. Just lucky to be in a position to spread the word.
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I knew about the Vicks Road to Relief from the ads with the little kids (That little guy who says “Thank you very much!” gets me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.) but I didn’t know that I could contribute by clicking that I Liked it on FB. I think its a wonderful opportunity for you Mia as well, and for us as readers to see what the reality is for these kids and their families.
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If through this. even if its just 1 extra person can become more aware of the problems in developing nations, and goes on help and donate, then all is well worth it.
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Thanks Mia, for taking the time to write a response. I guess I should realise that you aren’t symbolist in your causes and that you do believe in them. I knew that, but I rankled at the smiley photos, call me a grinch. I know you are doing good. I have the utmost respect for you, even though it seems that I snipe at you whenever the situation presents itself.
I mean it, but I don’t!
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such a beautiful post! this photos are just so beautiful and inspiring!! and just makes you realise how lucky we are to live in a country that has at basic medical needs at times its not the best but we cant take that granted for.
Thanks for sharing and look forward to your videos!
:O)
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Oh Mia, this is so close to my heart. My grandparents were missionaries/ surgeons in both PNG and Vanuatu, and my grandfather ran the Port Moresby hospital in the 50′s. They immunised, treated the ill, and I’m just awe inspired by anyone who can do the same.
My grandfather was buried in Vanuatu a few years ago, and there were STILL more than 100 Vanuatuan people crying at his funeral who remembered who he was. Yet he was a humble man who wanted nothing but to help other people. Which is why I named my daughter after him.
Two generations later, as a fashion designer, I am at a loss for what to do for these people. I’m no surgeon or nurse, yet I want to give. My family has been offered land several times (by the beautiful native people, who feel indebted to my grandparents) on which to build a business, yet we have no money to achieve anything substantial for them. What can we do?
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And by the way, Jonah is adorable. All the PNG children are… so full of life and spirit. I just want to bundle them all up and take them home with me… but of course, they wouldn’t be the same kids here, would they?! Such a giving, sharing community, it makes me almost ashamed to be living in a relatively self absorbed society. I wish we were more like them.
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Such an inspiring this to do Mia!
And those photos are amazing. Beautiful job by Connor.
Thanks for those
xo
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These are fantastic pictures Mia. As you say – humbling.
Seriously, whoever suggested on the other post that anti-
vaxxers donate their vaccinations to a country like PNG – brilliant.
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Oh my Mia. I’m feeling really emotional looking at these photos. You should be so proud of yourself – this is a wonderful thing to be involved in.
This makes me realise how very, very lucky we are. I know that I have wonderful comforts that many families have but it’s more about the hospital photos. My little one has been in hospital a few times in his short 2 years and the facilities that we access are just so good. I feel very lucky that he has access to these facilities, free immunisation and good doctors who take great care of him.
Thank you for reminding me of all of this and more.
Inspirational.
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beautiful pics, I’m sure the post will be just as wonderful x
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Thanks for doing this, Mia, and sharing the photos and the message. Especially at election time when we’re all thinking about what we value most. Tears of sadness for the pain, and joy when thinking of those mums and families so happy to know their child is that bit safer after immunisation.
Thanks, too, to Vicks for a great program – please keep it up.
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God, you are wonderful.
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Heart wrenching/warming photos – thankyou for sharing x
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I’m crying just from the photos.
It looks like something we all should do.
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thanks mia! You are doing such an amazing thing! can’t wait to read more about it.
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Mia, you are such a MUM ! And such a lovely, happy face bringing all sorts of joy and wonder to these families. You can see in your eyes the relationships you made …fan bloody tastic!
Yes, I can see why it would be life-changing and am so in awe of how the people manage to be the loving parents of these great kids, through all manner of sickness, poverty and more.
The one that tugged at my heart – the plastic bottle car. OMG doesn’t it make you feel like finding every toy lying around in boxes, backseats of cars, bags and bundle the lot up and put them on a plane to PNG but then I thought maybe that’s not the point – don’t indulge, because that’s not a high priority…?
Apart from the wonderful health assistance offered, would there be a way to send
goods ( teacher me that I am) to assist in provisioning schools?
Side first world problem. I’m guess the pretty pink iPhone is one which was given a swim last weekend. …ah well
xx
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Bless, that’s a great idea Denyse.
I don’t think it’s indulgent to want to give these kids some toys. When I was in primary school, we collected non-perishable foods to put in a hamper for less fortunate families at Christmas time. I distinctly remember my teacher saying she wished someone would bring a packet of Tim Tams for the hamper because surely the families who receive them must be sick of baked beans and tinned tomatoes?! I think everyone deserves a little joy and luxury, no matter how desperate their situation.
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You are doing amazing things … you are a force for good xx
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Off to find the tissue box
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Wow Mia, what an exciting project! Last year I spent two weeks working in the Port Moresby General Hospital labour ward and I agree, PNG is such an amazing country with the most beautiful people. I was just wondering if the issue of maternal mortality came up at all? In PNG a woman has something like a 500 times greater risk of dying due to pregnancy related complications than women in Australia. Their maternal mortality is second worst in the world (after Afghanistan). I’d love to hear if you experienced about this when you were there?
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Awwww…
I grew up in PNG & it’s so lovely (& sad at the same time) to see the pictures. Can’t wait for the full story Mia.
xxoo
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Hmm, that wasn’t what I intended! I thought the pic would go next to my name, like an avatar… Sorry all!
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Tears the whole way through – what an incredibly amazing thing you are doing Mia, opening everyone’s eyes to the small things we take for granted and just how lucky we all are. Unreal xx
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Thank you for sharing these… They’re so beautiful!!
The toy car broke my heart too..
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These photos are lovely to see Mia, really opens up our eyes!
I would love to do something like this in the future, so when you do your post on the trip please include info on how to get involved!
Thanks
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Beautiful, Mia! Can’t wait for the ‘full report’!
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Oh! Babies in bilums! I’ve missed seeing babies in bilums. They always seem so peaceful.
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Don’t they! Was disconcerting at first but is actually so clever. Loved seeing the women carrying the bags hanging off their heads!
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Wow Mia! Can’t wait for the story. By the looks of the photos and the amount, I reckon you’ve got a heap of posts up your sleeve!
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Wow Mia, the photo of the little girl with fluid on her brain…being too sick to have the operation…made me just start bawling. Oh how I wish I could help. I would love to be able to go and visit, help in any way i could. I just don’t know how I would be able to stop myself from crying all the time…oh oh oh. oh. Well done to you Mia.
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Siobhan,
The look in that little girl’s eyes…..my daughter gave me one of her Barbies to give to a child in PNG and I gave it to this little girl but she just looked so terrified….I tried not to cry in front of her….
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Wow that looks incredible! Cant wait to read the full post! (How did you cope with the flying Mia? I too am not a massive fan of planes!)
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I feel like a jerk for even complaining about the flying given the conditions of the kids and people I saw in PNG.
Oh poor me having to get on a jumbo jet!
You know, actually I am much better now. I still didn’t love it. Especially when I discovered I wasn’t travelling Qantas like I thought I was…..
But I had a few stern words with myself and it was fine….
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Thank you for sharing these photos Mia. Brings back so many memories of Rwanda/Kenya/Uganda – makes me ‘home’sick.
There’s so much we take for granted here – bless you for doing your bit to open others eyes to ‘the other side’.
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great images, very moving. look forward to seeing more. the ones in the hospitals brought a tear to my eye….
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