In case you saw the trailer for The Tallest Hurdle and were waiting for the finished piece, or if you don’t even know what I’m talking about … you should have a look at this new video I recently finished! I shot everything on location in Nepal and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It is a difficult story to tell but very important, as these kinds of things often go. Below is a short story summary. Please also see The Tallest Hurdle photo essay.

In Nepal, it is surprisingly common to find children with severe burn injuries since villagers cook over unprotected fires in their homes. Both parents of a household may often have to work, leaving children unattended or under the care of a relative who may also have many responsibilities. Children can crawl or walk in to an indoor fire, or perhaps tug on something hot that is cooking. In smaller homes, children can even fall into a fire while sleeping, as was the case with Sujan Gautam, who lost most of his right hand from injuries sustained while sleeping. Fortunately, the Disabled Newlife Center in Kathmandu and similar organizations are providing support for people like Sujan and are working to challenge the stigma associated with disability in Nepal.