What are you doing for World Aids Day?
Oh yes, it’s on Friday. Did you know that by 2010 it is estimated that there will be 22 million Aids orphans. Come on Representers, do your bit to support all the many initiatives going on around World Aids Day on Dec 1. We have two projects to recommend – both involving photography or art, we’ll let you know what else we come across.
The first is a digital storytelling project initiated by href=”http://www.photovoice.org/html/projects/photovoiceprojects/africaandmiddleeast/youthphotoreflect/projectbackground/” mce_href=”http://www.photovoice.org/html/projects/photovoiceprojects/africaandmiddleeast/youthphotoreflect/projectbackground/” >Photovoice.org Working with youth in Orange Farm, they are training them in the use of digital photography and IT – this is the first exhibition showing their work.
The second project ” I Love You Positive Or Negative “ is an Alliance Francaise collaboration with France-based “Designing Hope” organisation. Local artists have interpreted their feelings around Aids and one of Represent’s friends, Rhett Martyn is part of the crew. Go and see it!
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PHOTO REFLECT Exhibition Event – Witness to HIV/AIDS
“We are proud to be from Orange Farm, we are proud to be South Africans. We want to invite our audience to listen to us and to learn from us so we can take action together” – Members of the Photo Reflect youth project.
In October 2006, the international charity organisation PhotoVoice and local partner the Vukuzenzele Reflect Community Organisation (VRCO) that operates in the township of Orange Farm, began a two year programme working with youth infected and affected by HIV/Aids.
With participants aged between 16 and 33, the Photo Reflect project is an attempt to empower the youth of Orange Farm with the necessary tools to tackle the many challenges they face living in a marginalized and vulnerable community.
Through the specific use of digital story-telling and digital photography, the participants are given the means to document and voice their personal experiences, deepest concerns and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS, whilst increasing their capacity and to generate an income through photographic or IT skills training.
It is a fact that young people in this country are the most severely affected by AIDS. The largest proportion of HIV infections occur amongst people between the ages of 15 and 24. However, statistics aside these are unique individuals whose daily realities cannot be underplayed. This project seeks to understand the barriers that limit behavioural change and prevention of the disease as well as combat the stigma and stereotype attached to people living with HIV/AIDS in disadvantaged communities across South Africa.
Equipped with their own digital cameras, the participants of the project began a series of intensive workshops that are set to continue until Christmas 2006 and resume again in January 2007 with an emphasis on advocacy and showcasing their photos and digital stories through local and national community screenings, exhibitions and public exposure via the local press.
To coincide with World Aids Day, the first of these exhibitions is to run from December 2 to December 7 at the loveLife Y-centre in Orange Farm. The opening begins at 11am until 5pm.
Participants will be available during the course of the coming week as well as on the day of the event for interviews, walk-abouts and to speak generally about their work.
Please come and support these remarkable young people who bravely bare witness to HIV/AIDS.
“&through looking at the challenges we face , we also look at the solutions to these challenges and the people who are motivated to overcome them.”
For interviews with members of the Photo Reflect Project contact Thato Mogotsi on 072-448-7241
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I Love You Positive or Negative exhibition is organized by the Alliance Franýaise of Johannesburg and the French association Designing Hope.
This project is part of the “Artists4life” campaign initiated by Designing Hope as an awareness programme aimed at fighting the stigma associated with those affected by HIV / AIDS.
In an endeavour to break the barrier of stigmatisation, South African artists mobilize efforts through creative expression in an attempt to spread the message of love and hope for those affected by the disease.
From this exhibition, a number of artworks will be selected to be part of the international “Artists4life” campaign.
Opening
Friday 1 December 2006 – 6 pm
Alliance Franýaise of Johannesburg
17 Lower Park Drive corner Kerry Road
Parkview
(opposite Zoo Lake)
Artists
Debbie Cloete – Gordon Froud – Brenden Gray – Michelle Harris – Bevin Hearmon – Lara Koseff – Kudzi – Lawrence Lemaoana – Rhett Martyn – Jacki Mc Innes – Same Mdluli – Antoinette Murdoch – Nikki Naidoo – Musha Neluheni – Ellen Papciak-Rose – Landi Raubenteiner – Lerato Shadi – Mary Sibande – Diane Victor – Juliet White
For more information about the exhibition please contact Baptiste Fuchs on 011 646 1169 or here.
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