Photographic catharsis of earthquake affected children
A photography exhibition at the Khaas
Organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (
Half of the earthquake survivors were children who suffered the adverse effects of injury, displacement and interruptions to education. “The aim of this project was to allow children to share their perspective and reflect the tragedy of the quake as they saw it,” said UNICEF and
Some of the photography reflected tent village life through images of survivors washing clothes and collecting water from taps, while others captured children attending classes at makeshift schools. According to a Communityspeak representative, a photograph showing a child holding food depicted survivors’ concern for food provision. “That child told us that they needed more food,” she said.
Through this exhibition, the children have also recalled their memories of the time when the earthquake took place. Photographs titled ‘I was washing the dishes in my house when the quake came’ and ‘when I woke up I found myself outside the school’ conveyed some of their memories about the tragedy. Photographs titled ‘I need my home back’, ‘I want to go back to my village’ and ‘I want my valley to become as attractive and beautiful as it was before the quake’ reflected the children’s desire to return home and resume their life as it was before the tragedy, indicating that makeshift camps could not substitute for homes.
Returning to their villages six months later, children’s dreams about their mountain and valley homes are now becoming a reality. The UNICEF representative at the exhibition praised the children for their ‘resilient, artistic work’ adding that the photographs would be display in foreign countries as well. The exhibition will continue until Thursday.
Source: Daily Times
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