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

Emacs!

"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 http://www.bryanwatt.com/fund/fund.htmBryan 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.