For the first time in his life, little Pao knew how a camera worked and the entire world unravelling behind it.
Theeighth grade student has been provided with a pocket camera to capturewhat he sees in the community, as part of a Photo Voice Projectsupported by Oxfam and the Institute for Social Research, Economics andEnvironment (iSEE).
The project selected 15 students from the ManThan Ethinic Boarding Secondary School in the northern province of LaoCai's Simacai district to use cameras to record moments in theirday-to-day life.
"I photographed my brother and cousin carrying apig home to prepare for a wedding. During weddings in our area, bigpigs are served to the guests. This is a local tradition. A big pig canweigh around 80kg and needs two healthy young men to carry it with ahardwood tree pole," noted Pao, one of the best pupil photographersselected in the project.
"I also captured a lot of photographsrelated to food, eating, and daily life, such as my father taking careof the buffalo, working in the fields, and my friend helping out withthe family work.
"I feel that through this project, I can nowaccess new technology, learn about the surrounding life, and dare tocommunicate with the local authorities that I had previously thought myfamily could not reach," Pao asserted.
"After joining theproject, I now really love photography. I want to become a professionalphotographer to earn money and help my parents when I grow up," heremarked.
Through the eyes and perspectives of amateurphotographers, images about childhood games, school and familyactivities, and festivals are being widely showcased.
The youngphotographers turned their focus on important needs and desires of theirlives, such as having ample rice and food to eat and water to drink, aswell as social activities and school construction. Statistics revealthat of the 15,000 photographs captured by the students participating inthe project, about 70 percent were food-related.
With thepictures taken by the local children, iSEE offers us a glimpse intotheir daily lives and culture, stated Hoang Huy Thanh, an official ofiSEE.
"We chose three provinces and in each province, we selectedone or two village communities. We worked with the local heads of eachvillage by holding meetings in order to introduce them to the project.We proposed each community to select six-eight people to carry out thisprogramme," Thanh elaborated.
"Each person was then given acamera and some training on cultural values, on how to use the camera tocapture photographs. They were not required to capture pictures asphotographers, but rather to take authentic images of the daily ongoingsaround them and explain them. The project helps in the process ofself-appraisal through story-telling via images," Thanh explained.
"Thosewho participated in the Photo Voice were able to click severalwonderful pictures. Once these images were printed, they were especiallyhappy to see their community and relatives portrayed and remembered",Thanh added.
"Until now, five ethnic pupil groups have conductedbasic and preliminary research, and plans include showcasing the bestselected photographs in an exhibition in Hanoi, on June 1.
"Atfirst, the children participated timidly. Gradually, the project broughtmore self-confidence, better self-reliance, and a feeling that they canachieve anything," noted Nguyen Truong Giang, a lecturer in visualanthropology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities inHanoi, who helped instruct them.
"Before the project commenced,they believed that taking a picture to tell a story is only the work ofjournalists and photographers. With this programme, we empowered them tosee that they can capture photographs to tell their stories and standup for their rights and the rights of all children," Giang explained.
"Thisprogramme has a great impact in changing behaviour. Now, the childrendare to say what they think and dare to dream. Many of them didn't evenhave a dream. They just wanted to have something to eat and go toschool," noted a representative of the local Education and TrainingDepartment.
"Now, they believe they can become photographers,doctors, policemen, administrators, and policy makers. Photo Voice hasinstilled a life-changing dream in them," he emphasised.
Theprogramme continues to care for students from the ethnic minoritygroups, Raglan (Ninh Thuan), Mnong (Dak Nong), and Mong (Lao Cai) sinceearly last year.
"We hope that the government and socialorganisations can implement many more projects to help children develop asense of ethnic pride and introduce appropriate reforms. Photo Voice isan impressive project to improve the quality of local and practicaleducation. I think we need to replicate this project across thecountry," stressed Le Duc Ha, the headmaster of the school.-VNA
Theeighth grade student has been provided with a pocket camera to capturewhat he sees in the community, as part of a Photo Voice Projectsupported by Oxfam and the Institute for Social Research, Economics andEnvironment (iSEE).
The project selected 15 students from the ManThan Ethinic Boarding Secondary School in the northern province of LaoCai's Simacai district to use cameras to record moments in theirday-to-day life.
"I photographed my brother and cousin carrying apig home to prepare for a wedding. During weddings in our area, bigpigs are served to the guests. This is a local tradition. A big pig canweigh around 80kg and needs two healthy young men to carry it with ahardwood tree pole," noted Pao, one of the best pupil photographersselected in the project.
"I also captured a lot of photographsrelated to food, eating, and daily life, such as my father taking careof the buffalo, working in the fields, and my friend helping out withthe family work.
"I feel that through this project, I can nowaccess new technology, learn about the surrounding life, and dare tocommunicate with the local authorities that I had previously thought myfamily could not reach," Pao asserted.
"After joining theproject, I now really love photography. I want to become a professionalphotographer to earn money and help my parents when I grow up," heremarked.
Through the eyes and perspectives of amateurphotographers, images about childhood games, school and familyactivities, and festivals are being widely showcased.
The youngphotographers turned their focus on important needs and desires of theirlives, such as having ample rice and food to eat and water to drink, aswell as social activities and school construction. Statistics revealthat of the 15,000 photographs captured by the students participating inthe project, about 70 percent were food-related.
With thepictures taken by the local children, iSEE offers us a glimpse intotheir daily lives and culture, stated Hoang Huy Thanh, an official ofiSEE.
"We chose three provinces and in each province, we selectedone or two village communities. We worked with the local heads of eachvillage by holding meetings in order to introduce them to the project.We proposed each community to select six-eight people to carry out thisprogramme," Thanh elaborated.
"Each person was then given acamera and some training on cultural values, on how to use the camera tocapture photographs. They were not required to capture pictures asphotographers, but rather to take authentic images of the daily ongoingsaround them and explain them. The project helps in the process ofself-appraisal through story-telling via images," Thanh explained.
"Thosewho participated in the Photo Voice were able to click severalwonderful pictures. Once these images were printed, they were especiallyhappy to see their community and relatives portrayed and remembered",Thanh added.
"Until now, five ethnic pupil groups have conductedbasic and preliminary research, and plans include showcasing the bestselected photographs in an exhibition in Hanoi, on June 1.
"Atfirst, the children participated timidly. Gradually, the project broughtmore self-confidence, better self-reliance, and a feeling that they canachieve anything," noted Nguyen Truong Giang, a lecturer in visualanthropology at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities inHanoi, who helped instruct them.
"Before the project commenced,they believed that taking a picture to tell a story is only the work ofjournalists and photographers. With this programme, we empowered them tosee that they can capture photographs to tell their stories and standup for their rights and the rights of all children," Giang explained.
"Thisprogramme has a great impact in changing behaviour. Now, the childrendare to say what they think and dare to dream. Many of them didn't evenhave a dream. They just wanted to have something to eat and go toschool," noted a representative of the local Education and TrainingDepartment.
"Now, they believe they can become photographers,doctors, policemen, administrators, and policy makers. Photo Voice hasinstilled a life-changing dream in them," he emphasised.
Theprogramme continues to care for students from the ethnic minoritygroups, Raglan (Ninh Thuan), Mnong (Dak Nong), and Mong (Lao Cai) sinceearly last year.
"We hope that the government and socialorganisations can implement many more projects to help children develop asense of ethnic pride and introduce appropriate reforms. Photo Voice isan impressive project to improve the quality of local and practicaleducation. I think we need to replicate this project across thecountry," stressed Le Duc Ha, the headmaster of the school.-VNA
