August Workshop in Burundi

Association Jamaa, supported by Peace in Focus in Boston, held a peace photojournalism workshop for Burundian youth between August 9 to August 20, 2010. Sixteen young people from different backgrounds participated in the training.

The students learned how to use a camera, including manual features such as ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. In addition to learning how to take pictures themselves, the participants discussed images in the media. They talked about local journalism, media regulation and self-censorship, and common stereotypes in the media. They learned how to conduct an interview, collect information, and write a report. Students practiced documenting their communities with three excursions to Northern, Western, and Central Bujumbura. Due to a militia threat from Somalia’s Al Shabbab, the students were unable to photograph city center and public places during the workshop.

Peace in Focus congratulates Association Jamaa on successfully and independently replicating the peace photojournalism model in this workshop. A special thanks goes to Joseph Mukozi for translating the participants’ blog entries from Kirundi to English.