Changing the film within

Iris:






A famous person once said, "a picture is worth a thousand words." I love being able to look at the simplest pictures and get so much out of it. And another quote is, "you need to be there to believe it." There are people that can't be there so we have cameras, which become our second pair of eyes to show people our point of view, and to be more specific the different social issues in our community and how we want others to see our community. Peace in Focus allows me to capture the moments and find meanings to pictures. =) This program teaches us that we need to open our eyes and be aware. And most importantly keep the PEACE! I myself enjoy looking at different perspectives and getting new ideas. From the few days that I have been in Peace and Focus, I learned that the world is like a screen projector. When you go to the movies and you see something you don' t like about the movie, you don't go up to the projector and erase it. You have to go to the film in the back and change it from there. Well, in this case, we are the film and the world is the screen. If we want to change the world, you have to start with yourself! PEACE IN FOCUS =)


Aisha:




What I like about Peace in Focus is that you yourself are willing to escape from your community when you’re stressed or depressed. This group helps you give good back to your community. You make peace to stop violence. To stop the killing and to stop fighting but violence overall. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us..........your playing small does not serve the world.........we are all meant to share as children do.'' We have a lot of issues in this world: violence, death, healthcare, homeless people, hungry people, global warming, drugs, sexual assault, hatred, and ego. These are some of the problems that we face and with Peace in Focus we can end these bad things.

Media, Art, and Me

Jamal:





So my name is Jamal. I was in Peace in Focus last year and I joined again this year. There is not a real big difference between last year and this year - the only difference is the new people and the location and some new activities and field trips. I think this year is kind of better photography. In my perspective I have become a way better photographer because of this organization. The first week of this year we were mainly talking about media, peace and conflict all over the world.

I think that the media mostly affects everybody’s point of view because they promote negativity in the world. I had an interview with staff of the 7 News Channel. I asked her a lot of different questions so then I asked why do mostly all of the new channels show negative news and she answered truthfully and said that people pay more attention to bad things. She told me a quote that floats around the news business, which is "if it bleeds it leads." So that means the more outrageous the news is the more attention it gets so that's why they really never put on positive news. In the news before 2001 it never used to be as negative as this. All the negativity started in the 2000's so this wasn't too long ago. Only a few news channels have positive news. If the negative news continues earth is going to be even more negative than it is now.

Fehintola:







I have come to love taking pictures even more than before. Peace in Focus has helped me understand photography more. I also now understand Peace more and how we can create Peace in our own ways. I've learned that I can be a Leader and I can do anything I want to do if I put my mind to it. Peace in Focus has helped me understand that. I love making Peace now and I am trying even though its going to be hard to change my community and as soon as I do that I will go onto changing my country and I am then going to change the world. I have figured out that I have the power to do all these things and be successful with my life. I don't know what I want to do with my life yet career wise, but I know I like to do many things, and one of those things is photography. That's why I feel that I want to open an art gallery one day. I think that it is very possible for me to do. (Dero gave me this awesome idea about opening an art gallery.)

On August 13, 2009 when we all split up into our groups and took pictures around the city, I had taken some pictures of newspaper stands, and Dero had told me when he was reviewing my pictures that taking pictures of newspaper stands was a good idea for an art gallery. He said that I could say what I feel the different newspaper stands represent, and that inspired me and got me thinking about actually maybe opening an art gallery one day. The field trips that we take with Peace in Focus really help me. I loved the one to the Arboretum, even though I have like a million mosquito bites from it I learned a lot about myself and about nature. Peace in Focus is Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace in Focus Boston Workshop - August 2009

Peace in Focus is live in Boston!

Peace in Focus is holding its second annual Boston summer workshop for 14 talented young people from the greater Boston area (and Maine!). We are excited to connect you all with these remarkable young people, to build a creative space to re-imagine who we are and what we can be doing to create positive social change in our communities.

To begin, our participants traveled around Boston with several professional photographers to look at and see their communities in new ways. The result is an interactive map of Boston, featuring photos by these extraordinary young people: an artistic look at the city through their eyes..

Peace in Focus YouTube Channel

Peace in Focus is proud to launch the Official Peace in Focus Channel on YouTube. The channel features voices of Burundian youth and their messages for social change.

What would your message be?

First issue of "Akarusho +" to be published in Burundi

Peace in Focus/Jamaa plans to publish next week the first issue of Akarusho +, a monthly community newsletter for and by youth. "Akarusho +" means "advantage plus, star of the youth" in Kirundi, the national language in Burundi. The newspaper will be staffed by participants of the Peace in Focus/Jamaa Summer 2008 Workshop.

Peace Photojournalists learn how to use a voice recorder for interviews.

Working together on Akarusho +.

Our Burundi Slideshow

Below is a slideshow of photos taken by the 16 participants in our Peace in Focus - Bujumbura workshop. They are 8 boys and 8 girls between the ages of 14-17 from Bujumbura and the surrounding region of Bujumbura Rural. They are former child soldiers, orphans of HIV/AIDS and the war, refugees, displaced and homeless youth. They represent the rich ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity of Burundi. Their stories represent an emerging narrative of resilient and dedicated youth from the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Through the following entries, you will learn about them, their stories, the activities they experienced during our workshop, as well as their creative and unique vision for peace and social change, which they wish to share with you.

These photos were showcased at the Burundian Palace of Art and Culture in late August 2008.



We are grateful to our local partner organization, Jamaa, which provided untold amounts of support and continues to work with these inspiring young people. This summer was the first step in what we hope will be a long-term effort by Peace in Focus to engage Burundian youth in a creative dialogue and visual discourse for peace and reconciliation in their country.

To read more, please visit: Peace in Focus

L’Apprentissage Ne Finit Jamais

L’Apprentissage Ne Finit Jamais

- un poème par Edidiée
(a poem by Edidiée, a participant of our Peace in Focus - Bujumbura workshop, which she recited at our Photography Exhibit on August 20, 2008 in Bujumbura)

Au palais des Art ce Soir
Nous portons
Un grand collier unique
Ceinturant moi et toi
La connaissance dans la reconnaissance
La connaissance dans l’apprentissage

Ce métier d’amitié
Le métier de médiation
Comme une joyeuse source
Au sein et au service
De Jamaa et Peace in Focus
La mère sera la mère
De tous les enfants
Le père, le père de tous les enfants
L’enfant, l’enfant de tous les parents
Et nous mangerons dans le même plat
Ce morceau de l’éternité
Qui domine le monde

La jeunesse!
N’est pas faite pour le plaisir
Elle est faite pour l’héroïsme
Viens chercher la paix qui dure
Viens résoudre les conflits par moyen photographique
L’apparence n’est pas la réalité
Mais l’instruction est un vrai trésor
Avec message
Bâtissons un monde sans races
Bâtissons un monde tout a l’homme.

Edidiee reciting her poem at the Photography Exhibit

Mediation and Shutter Speed

DAY 8 - August 13, 2008

Ce qui m’a beaucoup intéressé dans cet atelier c’est que j’ai appris comment utiliser la vitesse d’obturation, la façon de l’augmentée et de la diminuée. Ce que j’ai aussi appris c’est à propos du rôle du médiateur comment il doit se comporter,qu’il doit être un homme intelligent,neutre,calme en plus qui a de l’expérience.

That which really interested me in this workshop is that I learned how to use shutter speed, the way to speed it up and slow it down. I also learned the role of the mediator and how he or she has to behave, that he has to be an intelligent person, neutral, calm, and someone with experience.

Commentaire : Chanel MUSHINGANTAHE (Commentary by Chanel Mushingantahe)

Chanel's photos:

Chanel

Kids without cameras

Bujumbura from the mountains

Ce que j’ai appris hier c’est de savoir utiser la vitesse d’obturation si il y a la lumière beaucoup tu te sers de la vitesse rapide et si il y a peu de lumière tu utilise la vitesse d’obturation lente. Ce que j’ai appris aussi c’est de savoir comment tu peux être médiateur entre deux personnes qui ont un conflit, d’abord qu’il faut être observateur, un homme neutre, impartial et honnête

Encore plus la photo joue un grand rôle par exemple tu peux prendre une photo en cachette comme preuve aux cas où l’un des deux avait refusé d’avouer la vérité.

Yesterday I learned how to use shutter speed. If there is a lot of light, you can use fast shutter speed, if there is little light you use slow shutter speed. I also learned how to be a mediator between two people in conflict. First you must be an observer, neutral, impartial, and honest.

Also, a photo plays a large role. For example, you can secretly take a photo as proof in the case where someone refused to tell the truth.

Commentaire : Adeline HAVYARIMANA (Commentary by Adeline Havyarimana)

Adeline's photos:

Adeline

A glimpse into Adeline's home

Central Market in Bujumbura

Youth as Today's Leaders

DAY 7

..J’ai appris beaucoup de chose durant l’atelier (différence entre images de paix et images de conflit, utiliser correctement un appareil photo, le rapport entre photographie et résolution de conflits et pas mal d’autres choses encore...) C’était une très bonne idée de venir nous enseigner cela

I learned many things during the workshop (the difference between images of peace and images of conflict, how to correctly use a camera, the relationship between photography and conflict resolution and many other things...) It was a very good idea to come teach us this.

Merci 100 fois, Cédric BAMBONEYEHO (Thank you 100 times, Cedrick Bamboneyeho)

Cedrick's photos:

Cédric

Lake Tanganyika

Untitled

...Je commence par remercier les organisateurs de l’atelier car nous apprenons tellement de choses qu’on ne connaissait pas avant :
-les jeux
-la distinction des images de paix et celles de conflit
-la photographie et le conflit
-les positions et les intérêts
-les stéréotypes du genre
-les visites…

Aujourd’hui on a commencé par parler de leadership, nous avons défini ce que c’est un leader, cité quelques exemples de leaders et donné des opportunités de leadership.
Après nous sommes tous partis à Bujumbura Rural pour visiter notre amie Adeline, c’était une belle excursion qui demandait beaucoup d’effort physique parce que c’est dans les collines. Nous avons également visité certains monuments historiques comme le Mosolé et le Monument de l’Unité Nationale

De retour nous avons un peu continué avec le leadership puis il y a eu le Slideshow : on nous a montré les photos qu’on a prises durant la semaine passée et on a terminé comme d’habitude avec « Chapeau !»

I begin by thanking the organizers of this workshop because we are really learning things we did not know before :
-games
-the distinction between images of peace and those of conflict
-photography and conflict
-positions and interests
-gender stereotypes
-excursions

Today we began by talking about leadership. We defined that it means to be a leader, gave some examples of leaders, and gave some opportunities for leadership.

After that we all left to go to Bujumbura Rural to visit the home of our friend and fellow participant Adeline. It was a beautiful excursion that required a lot of physical effort because we were in the hills. We also visited several historical monuments like the Mausoleum and the Monument of National Unity.

After coming back we continued to talk about leadership and then we saw the Slideshow – photos that we took the last week and we ended as usual with "Hats off!"

-Kelly Dusabe

Kelly's photos:

Kelly

Lake Tanganyika clean up

National Monument

Effective communication and conflict resolution

Peace in Focus Workshop Day 6 - August 11, 2008

...Ce que j’ai apprécié aujourd’hui c’est que j’ai appris comment dépasser ma colère j’ai également été intéressé par les jeux qu’on a fait. En général j’apprécie la façon dont le facilitateurs s’occupent de nous et nous expliquent si on rencontre des difficultés. J’adore aussi apprendre la photographie car elle me servira dans l’avenir et dans la reconstruction de mon pays.

…What I liked today is that I learned how to control my anger. I was also interested in the games we played. In general, I appreciate the way in which the facilitators take care of us and explain things if we encounter difficulties. I also love learning photography because it will serve me in the future and in the reconstruction of my country.

Merci beaucoup, INGABIRE Emmanuel (Thank you very much, Emmanuel Ingabire)

Emmanuel's photos:

Emmanuel

Working mother with child

Our group in Bujumbura Rural

..Salut à tous les blogueurs

Tout d’abord je remercie les organisateurs de cet atelier car j’ai pu apprendre beaucoup de choses que je connaissais pas avant.

Dès le premier jour de l’atelier j’ai appris comment différencier les images de paix et celles de conflit et au fil des jours j’ai appris la photographie avant je croyais que c’est quelque chose de très simple que tout le monde est capable de faire sans l’apprendre mais j’ai vu que c’est plus compliqué que ça il y a des trucs essentiels qu’on doit savoir. Autre chose que j’aime beaucoup ce sont nos excursions en ville, à la plage et ailleurs car j’apprends encore plus sur la photographie.

Aujourd’hui j’ai appris comment résoudre les conflits avec le système de « positions et intérêts » qu’il faut toujours bien écouter avant de trancher et ça va de soi avec la communication efficace où on nous a appris qu’il faut bien suivre le discours de celui qui s’adresse à toi

J’ai aussi appris beaucoup de jeux intéressants. Et j’espère apprendre encore plus durant les jours qui restent.

…Hi to all the bloggers

First, I thank the organizers of this workshop because I learned many things I did not know before.

Since the first day of the workshop I learned how to distinguish images of peace and images of conflict and the following days I learned photography. Before I thought that it was something very simple, which anyone can do without learning but I saw that it’s more complicated than that. There are some essential things that one must know. Another thing I like alot are our excursions into the city, the beach, and elsewhere because I learn even more about photography.

Today I learned how to resolve conflicts with the system of « positions and interests ». One must listen well before deciding and this goes with effective communication where we learned that it is important to follow the discourse of the person who is speaking to you.

I also learned many interesting games. And I hope to learn even more in the days to follow.

Merci, Sarah NDUWIMANA (Thank you, Sarah Nduwimana)

Sarah's photos:

Sarah

Burundian drummers

Friendship