Photograph by Jerry Obakeng Gaegane, the recipient of the Edward Ruiz Mentorship award for 2012/2013. Jerry recently exhibited a series of photographs on illegal mining in the Johannesburg area. Image courtesy of Kliptown Photography Project

ART NEWS: Kliptown Photography Project has been helping poor South African students foster creativity and inspire change for years. Now, the group needs your help.

SOUTH AFRICA— On Friday, Kliptown Photography Project will hold a fundraiser at Independent Brewing Company in Squirrel Hill in South Africa. The Project helps create opportunities for the high school students of Kliptown, South Africa. Kliptown is one of the oldest informal settlements in Soweto. The students in Kliptown live with up to four generations of their families in one or two-room shacks without electricity, running water, or public services.

Fostering Hope and Change Through Documentary Photography

The funding raising will enable students in Kliptown to learn about photography and photojournalism. Linda Dukess, one of the directors of the Kliptown Photography Project explained the rotational for the project:

We will be working with several young, dynamic South African photographers to teach the students photography and photojournalism this July. We will provide the digital equipment which would otherwise be unavailable to them, and teach them how to publish their photos to blogs and websites.

Dukess notes that photography is a way to fostering creativity among young people living in Kliptown.  “We believe that learning photography is a way to foster creativity and connection. We want them to be able to show us the world through their eyes, and to gain skills and confidence through the process.”

Photographs taken by students and their teachers during the project will be exhibited in South Africa and Pittsburgh. Proceeds from the exhibitions and sale of photographs will go to the Kliptown Youth Program. Additionally, it will help further their educational and arts programs in the community. Donations can be made to support  Kliptown Photography Project through its  IndieGoGo Campaign.

A photography group that uses photography to bring hope to poor South African students needs your help? Will you help?