|
Back to Index
Kids
with cameras
Zimbabwe
International Film Festival Trust (ZIFFT)
May 20, 2004
History and
Purpose
Kids
With Cameras (KWC), is a non-profit volunteer run photographic educational
programme that promotes visual cultural exchange by teaching children
between the ages of 9 and 18 about photography, communications,
and art. All proceeds form Kids With Cameras photographs go towards
Kids With Cameras school fees and future projects. The Zimbabwe
International Film Festival Trust supports the KWC as one of its
many outreach projects aimed at the development of the film industry
in Zimbabwe and the region by applying acquired skills in stills
photography to the medium of film.
Background
At the
end of 1998 Jill Mott, an American photographer, came to Zimbabwe
as a volunteer. She was placed as a photographer with an organization
producing a feature film in Harare. It was while working in communities
around Mbare that the idea for Kids with Cameras was born.
Kids with Cameras is a volunteer run non-profit program that teaches
disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe about photography, communications
and art. "The basic idea was that kids from 8-12years were
shown how to use 20 disposable cameras with the intention that they
then go out and photograph their own environment. The hope was to
have gallery shows and sell the prints to raise money for their
school fees." Jill Mott 1999.
Presently it is being run by ZIFFT and James Zembera, coordinates
the activities and the running of the project.
Kids With
Cameras ZIFFT (Zimbabwe International Film Festival Trust)
In
August of 2001 KWC participated in the Zimbabwean International
Film Festival, ZIFF. With the help of UNESCO and ZIFF KWC designed
and held a workshop teaching kids about film in which they got hands
on experience with Hi8 Video cameras. Kids were introduced to a
wide variety of films and used their skills to document all the
surrounding events of the festival. This was to be the beginning
of a long-term partnership with ZIFFT. Ever since 2002 they have
taken part at the festival as photographers, and they will also
attend 2004 festival.
With the help
of ZIFFT Kids With Cameras has managed to establish three groups,
one in Mbare, Chitungwiza and Dzivarasekwa with a total number of
25 kids for whom we pay school fees. Plans are underway to establish
other groups in Bulawayo. The project has also held workshops with
SAFAIDS on HIN/AIDS and how the children see it from a photographic
point of view, an exhibition will be held sometime in June or July.
We also held a workshop with Streets Ahead in preparation for an
exhibition on the day of the African Child on the 16th
of June at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. We also participate
in events like Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA),
the Month of photography and conduct workshops with other partners
like SAFAIDS, Alliance Française, Streets Ahead and Young
Africa Skills Training Centre.
Visit the ZIFFT
fact sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
