We have an adventuresome lady in our midst!

Doris Jansen’s interest in photography took hold in Africa.  Reasoning sensibly that Africa was prime photography territory she decided to buy a camera and learn how to use it.  In 1987 she moved to Zimbabwe where she worked for 4 years as an economist with the World Wildlife Fund.  She worked on a sustainable utilization project whereby local villagers would benefit from tourism.  Basically the project was a joint venture between the villagers and safari leaders.  These safaris were mostly hunting expeditions where tourists would pay very large amounts of money for the privilege of shooting wild animals.  The World Wildlife Fund would determine how many of each animal could safely be culled on ecological grounds and hunters would be allowed to shoot only that many.  A large portion of the money paid would go to the villagers who could build schools, dig wells, and further improve their existence.  By this means the villagers would “buy into” the project and protect animals from poaching.

After this job ended, Doris opened her own economic consulting business and worked with several large international agencies.  By the end of 13 years she had become disillusioned with providing economic policy advice to African governments and decided to turn her Zimbabwean property into a B & B, which she still owns.  She returned to the U.S. and opened a not for profit gallery in San Francisco with the famous Shona sculpture for sale.  She ran the gallery for 8 years until it became too difficult to get art objects out of Zimbabwe.

Doris began visiting the Coachella Valley only 3 years ago and then only for brief periods.  This year she has spent more time and is thoroughly enjoying her experience with the camera club which she discovered at the County Fair. She enjoys being with people who have interests in common, the companionship of group outings, and having critiques on her work.  Her most recent interest is water color painting.