Youth Photo-Reflect - South Africa (2006 - 2007)
Location: Africa and the Middle East
Keywords:
Project Background
PhotoVoice began its project working with children infected / affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa in September 2006 in Orange Farm, a vast informal settlement 60km south of Johannesburg. It is the most isolated, least integrated region of Johannesburg. With over 1m people, 40% are younger than 18. 50% of the population have no income and approximately 62% of the remainder earn less than R1500 a month, indicating that the majority live below the breadline. Unemployment is estimated at 70%, far higher than the national average, with most of those employed being in elementary occupations, which is indicative of low levels of education and skills development.
Project at workThere is little to do recreationally, pleasures are few and crime (including rape) and substance abuse levels are high. Such an environment provides fertile ground for the spread of HIV.
In spite of acquired education about how HIV is spread and how best to protect oneself, people continue to knowingly risk their lives through unsafe sexual practices. This project provides an innovative opportunity for young people themselves to challenge this phenomenon and to look beyond the traditional education programmes.
The Photography project was run in conjunction with Vukuzenzele Reflect Community Organisation (VRCO), and involved a series of digital photography workshops for young people between the ages of 12-18 who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
Key project objectives:
-Therapeutic benefits - To enable young people affected by AIDS in South Africa to express their feelings in a creative and positive way
-Self- Advocacy - To provide AIDS orphans with a voice and a powerful means of raising awareness and understanding of their experiences and needs
-Education - To create educational resources that will help counter negative stereotypical thinking about HIV/AIDS
-Skills for young people - To provide concrete digital media skills and valuable IT ability for young people with limited other opportunities
The project aims to result in touring exhibitions and screenings across South Africa (2008) as well as in the UK (2008/2009). These exhibitions and the accompanying distribution of a booklet, will further awareness and education of HIV/AIDS across South Africa thereby ensuring the maximum impact of the project. The exhibitions in the UK will aim to generate additional funds for the project as well as to further awareness of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Project photo gallery
Project Outputs
A DVD of the digital stories created by participants in Youth Photo Reflect is now available.
If you would like a copy please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your address, the number of DVDs required, and details of how you intend to use the digital stories. PhotoVoice welcomes a suggested donation of £3 to help cover the costs of distribution. Make a donation and when asked ‘If you would like your donation to go to a particular project or area of work please indicate here’, please quote SOUTH AFRICA DVD.
Use the links below to open the digital stories in a new window.
You are not great until you make someone great - by Sylvia
The year I’ll never forget - by Kgomotso
Alcohol Abuse: Isidla Mndeni - by Bongi
If the digital stories do not load please download the Flash player(Untick the yahoo toolbar if you do not wish to also install this)
or for Netscape, Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, and CompuServe download here
A DVD of the digital stories created by participants in Youth Photo Reflect is now available.
If you would like a copy please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your address, the number of DVDs required, and details of how you intend to use the digital stories. Please note that although the DVD is free, distribution is subject to approval of your intended use.
Further project info
Youth Photo-Reflect Exhibitions, South Africa
Photographs from young people documenting personal experiences and attitudes around HIV/AIDS
“We want to tell people what makes us who we are in our own words and photographs… We believe that as a group our opinions count… that everyone’s experiences and cultures are important and need to be respected and heard.”
Youth PhotoReflect Participant
27th February - 20 March
University of Witwatersrand
John Moffat Building
East Campus
Johannesburg
Opening Night Event
Wednesday 27th March
Light Refreshments and a screening of the Youth PhotoReflect Digital Stories
27th March - 5th April
The Bus Factory
3 President Street
West Entrance
Newtown Cultural Precinct
Newtown
Johannesburg
Some Participants will be availible to answer questions on the afternoon of the 27th March
RSVP: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)