Learn the basics of the craft, but above all experience success and learn something new. This was the aim of the photography workshops of the Nová škola NGO and the 400 ASA association for children from socially deprived backgrounds from Krásná Lípa and the Šluknov region. Twenty-four selected photographs taken during these workshops, which offer a testimony of how these children see their world, are now on display at the 400 ASA Gallery in Prague. The exhibition, titled My World, runs from February 20 to March 2, 2024.

The exhibition of photographic works by children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds entitled My World captures the world of socially excluded localities as seen through the eyes of children from Krásná Lípa and Šluknov. It can be visited until Saturday 2 March at the 400 ASA Gallery in Prague. "Together with the 400 ASA association, we decided to give these children a space to express themselves, to be creative, to learn something new and to be inspired, through photography," says Žofie Látalová from the Nová škola charity, who coordinates the exhibition.

The photographs were taken during photography workshops under the project Džas dureder, meaning "We go further" in the Romani language.

Together with Karel Cudlín and Martin Wágner from the 400 ASA association, the workshops were led by Jan Mihaliček, who says: "Our workshops were not only about photography technique, but above all about learning, discovering and meeting. Each of us presented a different view of the world and gave the participants the opportunity to see their surroundings with new eyes." During the seven workshops, the children involved learned how to work with light and shadow and tried their hand at portrait photography or macro photography. They also made their own camera that captures images on photographic paper, the so-called camera obscura. "They explored the world around them from afar and up close. They thought about how their world changes over time. This exhibition is a testament to how these children see their world," the photographer said.

Some of the families of the children whose photographs are now shown in the Prague gallery are struggling with housing problems or are victims of so called poverty trafficking. And very often they are negatively affected by living in isolated and structurally challenged parts of the Czech Republic, such as the Šluknov region. "They don't feel accepted by the majority society, they tend to fail at school. This is crucial for a child's motivation to 'keep going'. Through these workshops and this exhibition, we wanted to give these children the opportunity to experience both," explains the event coordinator Látalová. "The exhibition is proof that even children living in such difficult conditions have a lot to tell us," she concludes.

The Romani name for the project, "Džas dureder", means "we are going further" in Czech. It is based on the belief that in order for any children to be motivated, and therefore to be able to "move on", they need to experience success and feel accepted. However, Roma and other socially disadvantaged children often experience the opposite in school from the very beginning. The project therefore builds on the long-standing experience of Nová školy, o. p. s. that with sufficient support for children in preparing for school in the school and home environment and with sufficient, friendly and respectful communication with their parents, it is possible to reverse this. This proportionately increases children's motivation to work in school and to stay in education.

The project also included workshops with photographers from the 400 ASA. Their aim was not to teach the older pupils how to take pictures professionally, but to teach them the basics of the photographic craft and to introduce them to interesting personalities who could help them illustrate the world around them through photography. Pupils experienced longer-term systematic work towards a specific and concrete goal.

Since 1996, Nová škola, a non-profit organization, has been supporting inclusive education for minorities, foreigners and other socially or culturally disadvantaged children and youth. It was at the origin of the introduction of Roma teaching assistants into primary schools. It continues to support assistants through accredited courses and projects. She strives for conceptual solutions to issues related to inclusive education - she is a member of ČOSIV (Czech Professional Society for Inclusive Education).

 

More about project: Džas dureder - leisure learning and motivation for education in Krásná Lípa and Šluknov

Grant amount: CZK 5 968 266

Programme: Human Rights

Project Promoter´s Web: www.novaskolaops.cz