Teens Photovoice Exhibition

A special collection of photos and prose, created by young people who have been bereaved or traumatised as a result of the conflict, was exhibited in West Belfast last Thursday 11 December.

The display, titled It's my life, is part of an activity-based project for children and young people that began earlier this year with the unveiling of a mural showcasing children's rights. The new exhibit was compiled by six young people: Siobhán Clinton, Siobhán McNally, Gemma Wootten, Jennifer Comerford, Michaela Hardy and Paul Hardy, all aged between 11 and 14 and consists of photographs and accompanying text.

"We gave each child two cameras," explains programme organiser Deirdre McAliskey. "One had colour film, one black and white. We told them to take pictures of the people, places and things that were important to them but placed no restrictions on content.

"The result was six months of hard work, over 50 rolls of film, and more than 300 photographs. Each young person was then asked to narrow down their choices and select just five photographs to represent their lives in the display."

Most of the photos are accompanied by notes from each child's personal "photojournal" - which was intended to be a public or private diary where the young people involved could record their thoughts or feelings about each picture. While some of the images on display are almost comical, others are deeply moving.

"The young people involved have used these photos to express their own experience," says McAliskey. "Some of them need to say,'this is what happened to me.' Others don't want to be seen as different."

The North's newly-appointed Children's Commissioner, Nigel Williams, who attended last week's launch, welcomed the exhibition and offered to display it in his soon to be opened office on Belfast's Great Victoria Street.

Williams praised the children for their investment in the project and for their honesty and openness in dealing with such personal issues.