YOUTHS who successfully participated in the Photo Voice programme have commended Panos Institute Southern Africa for helping them realise their professional dreams and make a difference in their communities.
The Photo Voice project is part of the Panos Global AIDS Programme “Reaching the Unreached “initiative, implemented in Zambia (in collaboration with Africa Directions) and other countries like Kenya, Pakistan and Haiti. On November 26, the organisations jointly held an exhibition at Lusaka’s Mutendere compound where the youths’ stories on Sexual and Reproductive Health were exhibited.
The exhibition will be followed by a higher level showcase to present to stakeholders what the youths have gathered in the process.
“The project seeks to provide young people with skills and knowledge to use photos and digital software to produce short films documenting how HIV and AIDS affects their lives, families, and communities,” said Lilian Chigona, PSAf’s Regional Manager for HIV/AIDS.
Youths who spoke at the exhibition said the project had helped them realise their dream of becoming journalists, and positioned them to make a positive impact in their communities.
The Member of Parliament for Munali Constituency – which covers Mutendere -- Josephine Mumbi commended PSAf , Africa Directions, the youths and other stakeholders for “uniting for a purpose” in tackling issues of drug abuse and sexual reproductive health.
“Although there are a number of school based education programmes on adolescent sexual health, these often fail to reach out to out of school youth who this project was specifically targeting,” said Mumbi. “It is true that voices and concerns of out of school youth are often not heard or addressed in policy responses.
“I am glad that the Reaching the Unreached project has gone out to record and document voices of this hard to reach young people, to highlight challenges they face and get their thoughts on what they consider important steps towards addressing these issues.”
Africa Directions Executive Director, Mr Evans Banda said the programme “started off as a simple discussion in my office”, and expressed appreciation of PSAf’s role in empowering the youths.
“I would like to thank Panos for being an all-weather friend, for giving our youths a chance,” said Banda. “We hope these youths will use the skills to better their lives and the lives of others. They are not only contributing to the Mutendere community, but the nation as a whole.”
Banda appealed to PSAf to continue supporting the programme.
“We want to appeal to Panos to ensure the programme goes on, and even develop it into a radio and television programme.”
PSAf Executive director Mr Parkie Mbozi pledged the organisation’s commitment to support the programme, on a bigger scale.
“What you see here is a small component of what we do as an organisation to empower the voiceless, providing platforms for people to reach out to other stakeholders,” said Mbozi.
“We would like to take this programme across the country and to the (Southern Africa) region where we work. We need to take the process forward. We need to be with the people, to be directly relevant to the situation on the ground.
“This project allowed us to translate our objectives into actions. Young people are not normally reached, yet they are at a stage where they have to make decisions, the right decisions. “
Mbozi commended the young people who took part in the programme, and challenged them “to use the skills we have built in them to express themselves”.
“I hope we shall all continue to instil a sense of encouragement to young people, empower them to be better leaders tomorrow,” added Mbozi.
Mumbi appealed to people in her constituency and across Zambia to “take the messages we have heard from these young people and consider them as we develop interventions for youth” and promised to take the issues up.
The following are excerpts of what the participants said about the programme.
Wiza Muwowo (20): The training was like a dream come true for me. I now consider myself a journalist, which is something I have always wanted. I am now a serious citizen journalist, equipped with a lot of skills on radio interviewing, the dos and don’ts of radio programming. For me this is a stepping stone for me to be a seasoned journalist. I believe in two years I will be one (seasoned journalist).
“As young people, we should be able to discover our purpose, know why were created and use our opportunities. It is our responsibility to ensure that individual, community and national development takes place.
“As long as youths continue to indulge, we will also continue to face these challenges. No matter what people call us, we have impacted on lives out there. I would like to appeal to Panos, Africaa Direction and other organisations to continue to support this project so that we can continue to reach the unreached.
Margaret Lisa: “Thank you for giving us a chance to express ourselves on things that affect us every day,” said Lisa. “The Photo Voice project was very exciting, despite the many challenges we faced especially among some members of the public who thought we would abuse their pictures. This project will benefit the community and the nation at large.”
Sylvia Njovu: “The whole process was funny and we enjoyed every moment of it. Although we faced some challenges at some stages, I believe those were just meant to make us even stronger. This programme has to continue next year and beyond.”
Kaunda Ngulube: “The training was good, everything about it was great. I am now able to capture a good photo and use it to tell good stories. I am a better person now and I believe my community will also be better because of involvement in the Photo Voice programme.
For interviews, photos and more information on the Photo Voice project, please contact Ms. Lilian Chigona on +260-211-263258 or through email on lilian@panos.org.zm and copy to parkie@panos.org.zm.
