EVERYONE HAS HOPE:Taylor’s College showcases photographs taken by young Burmese refugees living in KL
Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir (centre) with the Burmese refugees.
TAYLOR'S College recently held the Everyone Has Hope exhibition at The
Cube Gallery, Ampang, to showcase photographs taken by nine Burmese
refugee youths over an eight-month period.
Initiated in 2009 by Taylor's College's Canadian Pre-University (CPU)
programme, the annual photography project involved refugee youths aged
between 13 and 16 years old living in Kuala Lumpur.
The project aimed to teach Burmese refugee youths from the Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR) Learning Centre to utilise the art of photography to document their daily lives and experiences.
The launch of the photo exhibition was attended by members of the public, students and staff.
The guest speaker for the event, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, applauded the initiative and encouraged Taylor's College to continue organising more of such activities.
The photo exhibition was open for public viewing recently. More than 200 photographs were displayed at the exhibition which gave visitors the opportunity to support these Burmese youths by purchasing the photographs.
The opening night successfully raised a total of RM3,000 from the auction of the photographs which ranged from RM25 to RM500. The proceeds benefited the ACR Learning Centre.
Inspired by the American documentary Born Into Brothels, the project highlighted the realities faced by the Burmese refugees living in Kuala Lumpur.
Taylor's College CPU teacher and founder of the Everyone Has Hope project, Colin Boyd Shafer explained that the project's mission was to provide an avenue for self-expression through art for the Burmese youths and, at the same time, raise awareness among the public of their plight as refugees.
"These youths are naturally inquisitive and creative and through this project, we want to nurture and promote these qualities.
"The exhibition features selected photographs that were unique, enlightening and offered realistic depictions of life as a refugee child in Malaysia.
"The chosen photographs served not only to illustrate the despair felt but also portray the victory of humanity over harsh times," he added.
Shafer said, "Students chose to volunteer for the project as part of their 10-hour community service requirement.
"However, once they were aware of the refugee situation, they continued to helm the project in the hope of creating a difference in their lives.
"The project has provided many students with hands-on learning experience, and it has allowed local students to mix with disadvantaged youth living in this country."
Apart from helping the Burmese youths to detail their lives through photography, the students also exposed them to different subject matters such as singing and fine art.
Other activities included field trips to well-known attractions such as the Zoo Negara and Batu Caves, visits to prominent photography displays such as the recent World Press Exhibition and attending a workshop by New York Times photographer Justin Mott.
Since its inception two years ago, the project has raised a total of RM15,000 for the ACR Learning Centre.
The project aimed to teach Burmese refugee youths from the Alliance of Chin Refugees (ACR) Learning Centre to utilise the art of photography to document their daily lives and experiences.
The launch of the photo exhibition was attended by members of the public, students and staff.
The guest speaker for the event, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, applauded the initiative and encouraged Taylor's College to continue organising more of such activities.
The photo exhibition was open for public viewing recently. More than 200 photographs were displayed at the exhibition which gave visitors the opportunity to support these Burmese youths by purchasing the photographs.
The opening night successfully raised a total of RM3,000 from the auction of the photographs which ranged from RM25 to RM500. The proceeds benefited the ACR Learning Centre.
Inspired by the American documentary Born Into Brothels, the project highlighted the realities faced by the Burmese refugees living in Kuala Lumpur.
Taylor's College CPU teacher and founder of the Everyone Has Hope project, Colin Boyd Shafer explained that the project's mission was to provide an avenue for self-expression through art for the Burmese youths and, at the same time, raise awareness among the public of their plight as refugees.
"These youths are naturally inquisitive and creative and through this project, we want to nurture and promote these qualities.
"The exhibition features selected photographs that were unique, enlightening and offered realistic depictions of life as a refugee child in Malaysia.
"The chosen photographs served not only to illustrate the despair felt but also portray the victory of humanity over harsh times," he added.
Shafer said, "Students chose to volunteer for the project as part of their 10-hour community service requirement.
"However, once they were aware of the refugee situation, they continued to helm the project in the hope of creating a difference in their lives.
"The project has provided many students with hands-on learning experience, and it has allowed local students to mix with disadvantaged youth living in this country."
Apart from helping the Burmese youths to detail their lives through photography, the students also exposed them to different subject matters such as singing and fine art.
Other activities included field trips to well-known attractions such as the Zoo Negara and Batu Caves, visits to prominent photography displays such as the recent World Press Exhibition and attending a workshop by New York Times photographer Justin Mott.
Since its inception two years ago, the project has raised a total of RM15,000 for the ACR Learning Centre.
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