The street kids documenting their lives at the foot of Kilimanjaro

Lenses can change lives — Club Sanaa work with Msamariakids Centre for Street Children in Moshi, Tanzania to empower marginalised young people through photography.

Participatory photography projects like PhotoVoice or Project Lives have shown how cameras can be powerful tools to empower communities to tell their own stories.

Club Sanaa have been teaching photography and journalism to marginalised young people at the Msamariakids Centre for Street Children in Moshi, Tanzania. After a successful crowdfunding drive, they’ve also helped provide arts education and hope to roll out the project to other communities around the globe.

Gilbert and Bahati are practicing their acrobatics. Kelvin, 14

Gilbert and Bahati are practicing their acrobatics. Kelvin, 14

6

15 kids from the centre aged between 12 and 17 were given disposable cameras over a two month period to capture their lives on film. Here are their shots presented alongside those from photographer Daniella Maiorano, who created and helped implement the project.

Each week, lessons taught the kids about different elements of photography and journalism: portrait and self portraits, themes, angles, story telling, and so on. “Our first lessons were a struggle as I learned the kids were unsure of how to let go and be creative,” Daniella explains. “They were used to being told what to do and were looking for a “right vs wrong” way of doing things. Thankfully, after a few rolls of film they got over that.”14970018

91490023

After weekly feedback sessions where the group would discuss their shots, the kids began to open up and explore their creativity. “They were ecstatic to be able to be in charge of what they were doing, and take ownership over their cameras and images,” Daniella says.

At the end of the project, the kids held a small exhibition in Moshi and explained their work to the invited locals. The print sale funded a pizza party (the kids’ choice) and further proceeds will go straight back to their community and the project’s next phase. But there was far more important work going on than merely raising funds.

Honesti is learning how to take photos. He also likes to dance and play football. Bahati, 13

Honesti is learning how to take photos. He also likes to dance and play football. Bahati, 13

Mama counts the eggs with the kids.Rodrick, 12

Mama counts the eggs with the kids. Rodrick, 12

“The main aim of the Cluba Sanaa project is to provide an outlet for creative expression and freedom,” Daniela says. “And with that, sharing their stories, via photography and story-telling, with the world. It’s one thing to read a news piece about street kids (or any marginalised group), or see a photo of them on a brochure for a charity, etc. But it brings a whole different meaning when you see photographs that they took themselves of their own world. It’s a sharing of cultures and breaking down of barriers.”

Find out more about Msamariakids Centre for Street Children and Club Sanaa and support their valuable work.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Music

Why London’s queers are flocking to line dance

Stud City — With a global boom in the popularity of country music, a host of new nights attended by LGBTQ+ folk are opening in the UK’s capital. Zoe Paskett went along to find out about the community’s love for the hustle.

Written by: Zoe Paskett

Culture

“My homeland Is everywhere”: Samantha Box is redefining contemporary photography

Confluences — Finding the boundaries of documentary photography too limiting, the US-based photographer has developed a style entirely her own as a canvas to explore her overlapping identities.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Music

In the ’60s and ’70s, Greenwich Village was the musical heart of New York

Talkin’ Greenwich Village — Author David Browne’s new book takes readers into the neighbourhood’s creative heyday, where a generation of artists and poets including Bob Dylan, Billie Holliday and Dave Van Ronk cut their teeth.

Written by: Cyna Mirzai

Activism

How Labour Activism changed the landscape of post-war USA

American Job — A new exhibition revisits over 70 years of working class solidarity and struggle, its radical legacy, and the central role of photography throughout.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Analogue Appreciation

Analogue Appreciation: Emma-Jean Thackray

Weirdo — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, multi-instrumentalist and Brownswood affiliate Emma-Jean Thackray.

Written by: Emma-Jean Thackray

Culture

Meet the shop cats of Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district

Feline good — Traditionally adopted to keep away rats from expensive produce, the feline guardians have become part of the central neighbourhood’s fabric. Erica’s online series captures the local celebrities.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to the new Huck Newsletter to get a personal take on the state of media and pop culture in your inbox every month from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck.

Please wait...