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Companions

A primary school on the island of Savai’i, in the Independent State of Samoa

Two young boys walk with backpacks on a tree-lined path in Samoa.
Photo by Ethan S. Andersen

It was a hot, humid morning and the first school of the day. I was sitting under the shade of the fale (pronounced “fah-lay”) where we were helping to screen children for rheumatic heart disease and give out school supplies. As we were finishing with the last kids, I caught this glimpse of two boys walking home with their new backpacks and a tale to tell their family about. For me, this picture captures not only the beauty of Samoa, but also the joy I felt being with the people who call it home.

Ethan S. Andersen