Photographs & Greeting Cards

by

Chetana "Cheti" Senadhira

Chetana “Cheti” Senadhira, an 18 year old student at the Maryland School for Deaf in Frederick, Maryland was born with several health issues. Weeks after her 2nd birthday her parents found out she was deaf.

Also at 2 years old, Cheti took charge of the family camera and was fascinated by the magic of photography. Her father’s job, which requires him to work overseas, has given her the opportunity to take many photographs of people, animals, and interesting places from around the world. It has inspired her to want to be a professional photographer one day and go to Hollywood or New York to work for a magazine. During the summer, Cheti spends her time in Sri Lanka.

During the summer of 2009, Cheti decided she wanted to take a summer job. Her mother and father arranged for her to be a teacher’s assistant at The School for the Deaf in Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. Her mother also suggested that Cheti print note cards with her photographs and try to sell them. Cheti was amazed when she saw the cards and her mother suggested that she should help a child who is not as lucky as herself with the money she got from the cards. Cheti decided to help a deaf child since she had already met several of them at school.

A portion of proceeds from sales of Cheti's greeting cards and prints are used to benefit the deaf children of Sri Lanka.