Burundi Workshop: Day 1

Hello!

My name is NIYONSABA Evelyne, I live at Cibitoke quarter, Bujumbura. I am 15 years old and I study in the 5th form at Mutakura secondary school. I like to help people, make charity actions for sufferers especially those who suffer from diseases. My passion is traveling; though I’ve never traveled abroad I have a strong desire of doing so whenever I may get an opportunity.

Currently, my hobby is traditional dance, I can say I’ve grown in that culture since childhood, so whenever I get a free time I often go to the dancing club. I’m always happy the only sad period of my life was when in primary school, a man came and throw to us a grenade, fortunately I didn’t die but I was severely wounded.

Today, I’ve learned so many new things about photography. We’ve been told for instance, photography began in the 19th century and its brief historical background was narrated to us. Now I know for example how to hold a camera to avoid any misfortune that can happen and break it, I equally know some photo ideas and some other element of photography. I admired the way we were treated in this workshop, we had tea and a nice dinner, I don’t complain at all. The only things that made me sweat was the afternoon work, I would like to work before noon only, if Richard and Huguette were not there for games I think I couldn’t hold on until 4 PM. I end up my message saying that today’s program was great and hope it will remain so the whole week.

Thanks!

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.

Announcing: October Photo Contest Winner

Announcing the winner of October's photo competition! The theme was "Where do you find peace?"

Congratulations to Icy Bradley on her photograph entitled "Peace in Nature."


The Honorable Mention goes to Heather Taylor for her photo essay on peace.

Don't forget to submit a photograph, along with title and caption, to peaceinfocus@gmail.com. This month's theme (deadline of November 1st) is "What is your dream for the future?" Looking forward to seeing your photos!

September Photo Contest Winner!

Announcing the winner of September's photo competition! The theme was "Where do you get information about your community or the world?"

Congratulations to Heather Taylor on her photograph entitled "Musical Revelation"

 

 Music is probably the most influential information-sender in our world. 

It can inspire change in the world, whether good or bad.

Don't forget to submit a photograph, along with title and caption, to peaceinfocus@gmail.com. This month's theme (deadline of October 1st) is "Where do you find peace?" We're sure all of you have places, environments, people, and situations in which you find peace. We'd love to share them with the world!

August Photo Competition!

Announcing the winner and honorable mentions for our August 2010 Photo Competition. The theme, "whom do you most admire in your community?", brought many phenomenal entries of loved and admired individuals and causes, which we invite you to view below in our slideshow.

Congratulations to Andrea Lubrano, this month's winner!

"Faith is believing in what is true"

Woman in prayer. 

Jerusalem, Israel 2010

I admire those who walk around with a little faith.

"Innocently so they already know where they stand"

Muslim children at play. 

Jerusalem, Israel 2010

I admire the innocence and carefree spirit of children.

"Stranger with intellectual property" 

Man on bike

Tel Aviv, Israel 2010

I admire those who have embraced their sense of self and have been able to intertwine their inner child and adult self, taking a leap of faith.

Congratulations also to our honorable mentions: 

Rebecca Bezaire for her photograph entitled "Siblings. Future Leaders" and Ciza for her photograph of her brother.

See these photographs below in the slideshow (click on this link for captions and titles)!

Monarchy in Burundi: A Slideshow by Eric Nsengiyumva

Enjoy this photo slideshow from Eric Nsengiyumva on the monarchy in Burundi.

These historical images show the progression of the monarchy from the mid-19th through the mid-20th century, as well as the evolution of photography in Burundi.

Click to view the slideshow full screen with captions.

July Photo Competition Winner!

Congratulations Allison Hopkins of Hinckley, Ohio

"Raise Your Voice"
   This photo was taken on a hike in Hocking Hills, Ohio. It is a great source of inspiration to me, because it symbolizes humanity and the need to reach for more. Better times and better life come when everyone reaches out - it symbolizes the growth for equality.

"When We Were Small" 
    This photo was taken near a small waterfall in Hocking Hills, Ohio. The kids were playing in the heart of the water, and it reminds me of simpler times when youth overlooked differences of people. It to me is the heart of equality. The innocence each of us wishes we could have is now blinded by the stereotypes society has etched in our minds.


Don't forget to submit to our August Competition, "Whom do you most admire in your community?"

June Photo Competition Winner and Honorable Mentions

Woman Feeding a Child

Raissa Ndayishimiye

"Looking to the way it is very hard to raise a child, makes me believe in mothers"

Honorable Mentions to: 

Georgina Winthrop

Tulips in the Snow

"This image of perseverance in nature reminds me to stay strong and to grow when faced with adversity"

Thierry Ngabo

My Family

"My family is a part of things that give me hope, for their smiles widen my horizons of hope"

Aimee-Gloria Nahimana

A Teacher

"I trust my teacher because he helps me get my knowledge as far as the eye can see, and know what I didn't know before"

 

Thank you to all participants!

This month's theme is What does equality look like? We would love to see your photographs! Please submit them to peaceinfocus@gmail.com by July 1st!

 

Our Journey To The Corners (video)

The Peace in Focus spring 2010 group of 10-16 year olds rode the 66 bus, using their critical photographic and conflict transformational eyes to document and compare two neighborhood centers in Boston. They produced this essay of photographic pairs for a public art project called Virtual Corners, which seeks to break down the divide and distance between two very diverse communities with significant historical connections: Coolidge Corner, Brookline, and in Dudley Square, Roxbury. Here's a video version of their collective photo essay, also featured in on exhibit at the USES Harriett Tubman House in Roxbury.



All the photographs that appear in this short movie were captured by Peace in Focus youth
participants including:

Alex (15)
Adriana (13)
Dounia (15)
Khadijah (12)
Miniya (10)
Sadiq (12)
Shaliah (13)

Voices Heard include:

Danielle Martin, PiF Instructor
Dounia, youth participant
Jumaada, Nubian Notion, Dudley Sq
Ethel Weis, Irvings Toy & Card Shop, Coolidge Corner
Khadijah, youth participant
Willy, the 66 Bus Blues Man
Other Music by Fireproof Babies - Bathroom_Blues from CCMixter.org

Special thanks to our staff/volunteers:
Kate, Kyle, Julian, Danielle, Heather, Kim, Ben, & Pablo

Also special thanks to the support of John Ewing & the Virtual Corners project, Thaddeus Miles of MassIMPACT, United South End Settlements, and the Knight Foundation.

www.peaceinfocus.org
www.virtualcorners.net

Film by Danielle Martin (MizzD Productions 2010)

Digital Stories from USES Afterschoolers!

Here's the final reflective digital stories made by 10-12 year old participants in our 6-week session this spring. The youth used a script, much like a Mad Lib, to draft a short reflective digital story that featured some of the photos they took over the 6 weeks then their own recorded voice telling us about their identity, their sources of conflict, how they find or build peace, and their ideas on how to change the world. This Peace in Focus spring collaboration with the United South End Settlement's Afterschool Program was made possible through the support of MassIMPACT.

David's Story



Elsa's Story



Jeremiah's Story



Mahki's Story



Serv's Story