Introduction:
For those of you who remember, Bryan Watt, WA6JFM, was the former owner
of the 147.945 Repeater at Gibraltar Peak. Leila Srour, MD, was employed
at Sansum before they decided to pull up stakes and go to Laos. Brian was
active with SBARC and several Club projects when he resided in Santa
Barbara as a EE. He later went to Brooks which provided him with the
skills to launch another career.
My former experience in Laos many years ago was quite different in an
extremely poor country which was torn by political factions and war. Glad
to see that one of our own is helping to make a difference.
Bill Talanian
"Bryan Watt graduated with a Bachelor and Master of Science in
Photography from the Brooks Institute of Photography. He was an honor
roll student, on the President's list, and received the First Year Award.
At graduation, he was presented with a Departmental award and the
Achievement Award - the highest award presented by the Brooks Institute
of Photography. After graduation, Bryan taught photography for several
years at the Brooks Institute of Photography.
Bryan believes a socially responsible photographer leaves with a part of
the soul; and in return must give by helping those in need. Bryan helps
to arrange medical care at the local level, provincial level, and
national level. and has even helped Lao children to travel overseas for
heart surgery and facial-reconstructive surgery. Bryan donates all the
proceeds from his photography to the
Bryan and Leila's Lao
Children's Fund.
Bryan and his wife Leila Srour, a pediatrician have been living in the
Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) since 2002."
For more information go to:
http://www.bryanwatt.com/
Santa Barbara News Press Page D1
Children of Laos
May 27, 2008 12:00 AM
Brooks Institute is hosting a fundraiser to help Brooks graduate Bryan
Watt and his wife, Leila Srour, rebuild a school and children's center in
Laos. A photographic exhibition of prints is on view through July 10 at
the Brooks Institute Cota Street Gallery, 27 E. Cota Street. From 5 to 8
p.m. on June 5, all work will be auctioned at the free event, which
coincides with the Downtown Organization's 1st Thursday art walk.
Proceeds will go to the project for the children of Laos. In the northern
city of Muang Sing in Laos near the Chinese border, there is a temporary
classroom structure built out of sticks with a thatched roof. The Watts'
objective is to rebuild a permanent school with a center for 286 kids.
Gallery hours are 8 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 9
p.m. weekends. For more information, call 690-7612.