This morning, NPR’s The Picture Show blog published a piece about CHOSA’s upcoming photo exhibition in Washington, DC.  Amafoto Ethu (meaning “Our Photos” in isiXhosa) will take place on Wednesday, June 3rd at the Mount Vernon Campus of The George Washington University.  The exhibition features the photographic works of children from Baphumelele Children’s Home and Emasithandane Children’s Project in Khayelitsha and Nyanga, respectively.  The children are active participants in CHOSA’s afterschool educational program and, specifically, our Arts Initiative (run in partnership with The Council on International Educational Exchange at The University of Cape Town).  

Since 2006, CHOSA has been running photography workshops with the kids, providing a creative outlet, encouraging critical thinking and problem solving and an opportunity for the children to show the rest of us what the world looks like through their eyes.  Their photos are poignant and touching, goofy and sad – an unbelievably accurate portrayal of the ups and downs of township life.  Their works remind us that the children CHOSA serves are  regular kids with hopes, dreams and teenage frustrations!

The children selected which photos would be displayed in the first exhibition in commemoration of World AIDS Day in Cape Town in 2006.  They chose an array of photos that showed children playing in the street with friends, a “beautiful house, I want it to be mine” or the oh-so-eloquently phrased, “He was just takin’ this on the stairs.  I like it because it’s just crazy”.  

Many of those photos have been included in Amafoto Ethu, the upcoming exhibit in Washington, DC.  If you’re interested in joining us on Wednesday, June 3rd from 6-9pm, please email [email protected] for details.  The event will include a traditional South African braai (BBQ), photo exhibit and the opportunity to learn more about (and support!) CHOSA’s work in South Africa.

RSVPs are strongly encouraged for catering reasons.

Thanks to The Elizabeth Somers Women’s Leadership Program for sponsorship of the beautiful space at GWU!