Children tell their story through photography

IF YOU could tell your story through pictures, what would it be like? For some, a project like this might seem a little strange but for the children who have found a way to tell their story with these pictures, it can’t get better. In December 2013 German photographer and artist Marie Kohler launched an exciting photographic project for Rwandan children called “Make a photo yourself”. Equipped with 120 cameras, more than 600 films and necessary devices she has been working with 70 pupils between the ages of 9 and 12 from The Root Foundation’s “Best Childhood Brilliant Future” project in Kagugu and Green Hills Academy. Kohler, whose passion for photography is well documented, started the project two years ago in Burkina Faso. “Back when I started, I noticed that photos about Africa were in only two categories; those showing war, poverty and those showing the beautiful pictures of elephants and the wonderful pictures of African parks,” she says. With this in mind, Kohler gave children the chance to create images of their lives, families, friends, neighbours, pets, toys, homes, and their city. One of the students from Green Hills Academy, Sandrine Mulingo, whose camera was full of pictures of the sky and flowers, said visiting the areas where children of Root Foundation live and share their experience with the pictures they take was very awesome. “We shared the pictures we took and one could notice a big difference in opinion of what picture to take or not to take. It shows the difference in the lives we live and that is the beauty of this photography project. It defines every one’s life individually,” Mulingo said. When asked why she chose to take the picture of the sky and flowers she said, “The sky and flowers are always beautiful even when an amateur takes the picture. If I start with this then I will get to know how to take pictures like a professional and all my pictures will be beautiful.” Innocent Nsengiyumva is one of the children who were given a camera from Root Foundation, an NGO that gets children from the street and enrolls them in school. “In Root Foundation, we are like a family. But even our pictures are not the same. They are all uniquely beautiful in their own way,” he says in appreciation of Kohler’s project. With these pictures, Nsengiyumva believes he will not have to keep begging his parents for money to buy pens and books, as he is willing to sell the pictures and cover some of his personal costs. Peninnah Kubwimana from Root foundation didn’t even know how photos are made. “I used to think cameras were just mirrors but after I held one and used it, I couldn’t believe how something so nice existed. I am so happy to take pictures and I will narrate my life through photography,” she says. Last week at the Goethe Institut, Marie Kohler and members of her photo lab presented stunning results of their work for the first time. Next week, she visits Musanze District and will give out 20 more cameras and by the end of the project, about 100 cameras will be in the hands of children.