When you hear the words ‘inner-city youth’,
what images spring to mind? Negative media
coverage of young people often conjures
mental images of gangs, guns and knife crime.
These negative perceptions are frequently all we
see and hear about the young people who live in inner
city
areas of London. However, there is a lot more to these
young people than is portrayed in the media and it is their
voices we should be listening to.
The ‘How We See it’ project is just that - how the young people of
Hackney and Kennington see their world, their life, their streets -
through their eyes, away from the often harsh glare of the media lens.
This project was largely about challenging perceptions. How many of
you have been misjudged at a first glance by your appearance, your
accent or where you’re from? This project allows the public some
insight into what the youth of Hackney and Kennington are really about
and for them to express their unheard views about what was important
to them.
This project was not about encouraging young people to explore who
they were outside of the public’s perceptions of violence and crime.
They already knew what they were about - their goals, faith, talent and
the people and places they care about. The people of Fairbridge and
PhotoVoice just gave them a voice (and a lens) to convey this.
This is how they see it, how do you see it?
PhotoVoice is registered charity no. 1096958. Fairbridge is registered charity no. 206807