We often associate ‘change’ with large proportions, the word itself filled with grand connotations that signal an alteration from one state to another. However we sometimes forget that all changes, no matter how large, are made up of tiny fragments that singularly are fundamental to the creation of the whole. Those jigsaw puzzles we used to play with as a child probably taught us one of the most important life lessons, because as much as we would eagerly rush to finish the bigger picture, we could also spend hours looking for the final single piece that had somehow been swallowed up by the toy box. Because even then, we realized that ‘one’ is sometimes far more important than ‘many.’

It is with this philosophy that One Image Charity seeks to raise awareness of the plight of street children living in the slums of the Philippines and Haiti. Created by John Kunichika, Keiko Shimizu and Stephan Moskovic, three leading figures in the industries of design and photography, this organization demonstrates how the power of a single image can change the lives of many.

In collaboration with numerous talented photographers, including Michael Thompson (who has contributed to the likes of VOGUE, W and Harper’s Bazaar) and Greg Sorensen (who has worked with everyone from Avril Lavigne to L’Oreal), One Image Charity is currently hosting an online auction featuring a single snapshot contributed by each participating photographer. All proceeds raised will be donated to the Little Children of the World, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of street children at risk.

So as you whirl through your day filled with countless of ‘manys’, don’t forget the power of ‘one.’

Image by Alexandre Weinberger. Courtesy of Oneimagecharity.com