A year ago I came across Jeremy Cowart’s video about Help Portrait. I cried. Then I became part of the first Help Portrait event. I loved their philosophy and I knew I had to start with something that gives back to the community. Beginning 2010 I started the KIKI outreach program, in conjunction with The Viewfinder Project. We aim to teach kids in underprivileged communities to see differently. For the past few months I and some awesome photographer with very big hearts have been spending time in Kayamandi to teach the kids more about photography. We taught them the basics of ISO, aperture and shutter speed.

When we started out we literally had no cameras. I realized I had to start by teaching them about the viewfinder and portrait and landscape. So I made some cameras out of cardboard boxes. (If you haven’t seen them, you have to have a look over here) The kids even branded them :)

After I blogged about the cardboard camera’s people started sponsoring equipment and today we already have 4 SLR cameras! The kids can now shoot with SLR’s and proud to say, they shoot on manual. :)

This weekend is our exhibition and we’d love all the support we can get. These kids have been working really hard to get their projects together. We also need some support with the following:

Sponsorship for:
1. drinks & food
2. printing for their photos (+- 100 A4 shots)
3. printing & framing of certificates
4. prizes

The exhibition will be at Kuyasa centre in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch (please email me for directions). The exhibition and graduation will take place Sunday 17 October, between 14:00 and 16:00. We’d love to see you there!

If you can help with sponsorship, please email me.

Here are a few photos of what the kids took during the classes.

Big thank you to Lauren Kriedemann, Nikki Meyer, Irene Kim, Nikki Smuts and Estie Thirion, Ncumisa Siko, Katie & Mary-Beth, Wil Punt for helping out with KIKI outreach!