little chair
I joined the Momenta Workshop, Project South Africa 2013, to improve my understanding and practice of documentary photography and photojournalism. The workshop led by Jamie Rose was immersive and fascinating. I was assigned to James House for two weeks with the goal of developing a photo story and also providing images for the nonprofit to use for their website, annual report and promotional activities. I was the third Momenta student to work with James House and had big boots to fill. The workshop gave me a greater insight into working with nonprofits and I experienced tactful but brutally honest editing from Jamie. Ouch!
Being exposed to the programs offered to the local communities in Hout Bay was fascinating and educational. Initially James House provided support and refuge to abandonded and neglected boys but their remit has grown to include the entire community with a new Residential Program in development plus Boys Quest, Life Centre (which has an Adolescent Development Program and Isibanye Youth Club) and Isibindi (Xhosa for courage) which includes GOGO (for grandmothers who need respite for caring for their grandchildren), community support in the home, a disability facilitator, after-school Safe Parks and Liyema Ikaya, which supports child-headed families.
Despite being adjacent to the prosperous suburb of Hout Bay, Isimazo Yutha and Hangberg suffer the overcrowding, poverty and deprivation often found in South African townships. Drink, drugs, violence, teen pregnancies and HIV present growing challenges to nonprofit organisations especially when obtaining funding is increasingly difficult in our current economy.
I developed the Little Chair project after seeing a child’s chair abandoned in the park; it symbolised the plight of the children who are neglected and abused. It seemed fitting to show how the staff of James House despite their sometimes difficult jobs are full of fun and compassion for their community and how their care benefits so many people, from small children to grannies. The Little Chair has become for me a symbol of the work that nonprofits all over the world do to change lives, they are inspiring and I plan to continue to be involved in this type of photography.
Read MoreBeing exposed to the programs offered to the local communities in Hout Bay was fascinating and educational. Initially James House provided support and refuge to abandonded and neglected boys but their remit has grown to include the entire community with a new Residential Program in development plus Boys Quest, Life Centre (which has an Adolescent Development Program and Isibanye Youth Club) and Isibindi (Xhosa for courage) which includes GOGO (for grandmothers who need respite for caring for their grandchildren), community support in the home, a disability facilitator, after-school Safe Parks and Liyema Ikaya, which supports child-headed families.
Despite being adjacent to the prosperous suburb of Hout Bay, Isimazo Yutha and Hangberg suffer the overcrowding, poverty and deprivation often found in South African townships. Drink, drugs, violence, teen pregnancies and HIV present growing challenges to nonprofit organisations especially when obtaining funding is increasingly difficult in our current economy.
I developed the Little Chair project after seeing a child’s chair abandoned in the park; it symbolised the plight of the children who are neglected and abused. It seemed fitting to show how the staff of James House despite their sometimes difficult jobs are full of fun and compassion for their community and how their care benefits so many people, from small children to grannies. The Little Chair has become for me a symbol of the work that nonprofits all over the world do to change lives, they are inspiring and I plan to continue to be involved in this type of photography.
