Children's Photo Exhibition

In 2011, children from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Uganda used disposable cameras to take pictures that illustrate the role they play in their home and community, and the kind of support that they receive from their communities.

Entitled "What I do for my community, what my community does for me", the photo exhibition emphasises the importance of community-level action in the care and support for children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.  By giving children the opportunity to show how they also contribute to their communities, the exhibition helps to empower children and dispel the assumption that African children are powerless victims of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The exhibition traveled to the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC in July 2012. 

Hover over the pictures to read the children's stories in their own words. 

Simba and his friends support each other

“I love my friends. They help me with homework, we study together even when there is no electricity we use candles. We play soccer at weekends and they support me when I am in problems. They all live in the same community where I live.” (Photographer: Simba, 12, Zimbabwe)

Simba tells this lady his problems.

“This lady is like a grandmother to me and so I always go and help her water her garden. Sometimes she tells me stories and I always want to go and spend time with her especially when I have problems at home.” (Photographer: Simbarashe, 12, Zimbabwe)

I play with this boy so he does not feel unloved.

“I asked my friend to take a photograph of me with this boy. Many people say this boy is mad. This makes me angry because I think God does not like it. I play with him so he does not feel lonely and unloved." (Photographer: Tafadzwa, 14, Zimbabwe)

Nqobani’s teacher likes children.

“This is my teacher. She teaches us bible knowledge and she likes children. She helps a lot of depressed and abused children in the community. I like her because she likes us.” (Photographer: Nqobani, 16, Zimbabwe)

Learnmore and Mgcini walk together to school every day.

“On the picture is myself and my friend up a hill from school. We come across elephants and hyenas in this area and it is scary. I team up with friends so that we are able to walk through thick bushes to school. We work as a team. We leave home while it is dark and get back home in the dark again.” (Photographer: Learnmore, 15, Zimbabwe)

Our group helped Justice to feel better.

“The boy on the left is Justice and Learnmore is on the right. Justice had been depressed for some days. We talked to him because we know about peer counselling from UNICA. His father was ill and had gone missing. They are laughing in the picture because they had heard news that Justice’s father had been found and was alive. I was also happy to be part of the joy.” (Photographer: Patience, 15, Zimbabwe)

Patience is happy to go back to school.

“These are my younger sister and brother. We were so happy to be able to have time to go back to school again after my father had been ill for a long time. He could now walk and do some things for himself.” (Photographer: Patience, 15, Zimbabwe)

Our community is developing little by little.

“My name is Agent. I was born in a deep rural community known as Ramotshinyadi in Bolobedu near the farms. Our councillor from the government helps our community. Our community is developing little by little. We now have electricity in our houses and the people are busy making the road. All we need now is good water supply.” (Photographer: Agent, 17, South Africa)

Prince teaches young people about Scouts.

“Hi, my name is Prince. I live at ga-Ramotshinyadi Village. I teach young people about Scouts. Scouts is good because it teaches you to do things for yourself. That is why I like to teach the other young ones about it. My friend took this photo when I asked him. I am in my Scout uniform” (Photographer: Simon 15, South Africa)

Growing vegetables for the orphans at the village.

“These ladies help the community. They grow vegetables to support their families. They also donate some to the project that feeds orphans at the village.” (Photographer: Prince, 16, South Africa)

We are learning how to type using the computer.

“Every day we can come to the Ramotshinyadi Youth Centre to use the computers. We play games and we are learning to type. This picture is young children at their first lesson at the computer. We also come here to study. It is quiet and the caregivers help with homework. This is a good service to us.” (Photographer: Prince, 16, South Africa)

The ladies here have passion to help the community.

“This lady comes every day to help at the Ramotshinyadi Youth Centre. She gives the children food. There are many ladies at the centre who have passion to help the community. Some ladies are caregivers and go every day to help sick people to take their medicines. I took this photo because we are grateful.” (Photographer: Smangile, 12, South Africa)

The young ones are happy to be looked after

“In this photo one person is missing. It is the big sister who was showering her young sister and brother. She said she was too shy to be on camera. But I took the photo because the young ones are happy to be looked after by their shy sister.” (Photographer: Prince, 16, South Africa)

Kedibone and Thulane are happy to get food.

“On the picture is Kedibone and Thulane. They are happy to get food every day at Ramotshinyadi Youth Centre. The caregivers help Fhatwani, the manager to give us food every day.” (Photographer: Mapula, 12, South Africa)

Farming is very hard work

“This is Benuka, he is peeling potatoes that he has grown. He told me that farming is very hard work. You dig to plant so that you can get food. You go out with the hoe, you plant potatoes, wait for six months and you eat. You go and dig, you plant beans and wait for three months and eat.” (Photographer: Brenda, 15, Uganda)

Brenda and her sisters and brother work as a small team

“This photo is about my sick mother and the children I look after sitting in front of the kitchen. We are six people at home. Five in the photo and me who took the photo makes six in number. The boy helps me to cut firewood for sale. We also dig in the garden as a small team to get money to buy clothes.” (Photographer: Brenda, 15, Uganda)

Gyagenda looks after his younger brother

"I took a photograph of my friend Gyagenda cutting his brother's hair. He looks after two brothers and a sick grandfather. He makes bricks and cuts pieces of wood to sell and get money. The money he gets is for buying drugs for his grandfather. His neighbour gives them food and his head teacher helps him – he gives him books and pens to use at school."
(Photographer: Kasiriye, 12, Uganda)

Olivia’s neighbour helps her to look after the children.

“This is my house, my neighbour is not seen clearly but she is giving porridge to my small sister. I look after seven children and a grandmother with a bad leg. My neighbour gives me salt, paraffin and gives food to the young ones until I come back from school.” (Photographer: Olivia, 14, Uganda)

Patrick works with his friends.

“These are the friends that work with me. This is the work I do to get money to support the home and to pay my school fees. I have to buy food because our land was sold by relatives when my father died.” (Photographer: Patrick, 16, Uganda)

Naddamba makes sure the children go to school.

“I took this picture to tell about how Naddamba looks after the young ones. She bathes them and buys books for them, takes them to hospital when they are sick and washes clothes for them. When they are sent away from school she has to sell a hen or a goat to be able to buy a uniform.” (Photographer: Lydia, 16, Uganda)

Nakanya does not get help from neighbours.

“Nakanya is young but she looks after the family. Her mother is sick. She goes to the neighbour and some relatives for help but gets little from there. Some dodge her and are not straight forward, they have a bad heart.” (Photographer: Robert, 17, Uganda)

Children's photo exhibition photographers

The children who participated in the photo exhibition. They provide a glimpse into their daily lives and experiences in their communities, dealing with the devastating affects of the HIV epidemic.  

Tony’s great aunt helps him to look after the family.

“I am living with my grandfather, his two wives and his brother and his sister. They are very old. My grandfather’s eyes are blind. I go to school but I have to do work for money for food. This is my grandfather’s sister planting groundnuts. When she is feeling better she helps me.” (Photographer: Tony, 17, Uganda)

Though great progress has been made in the fight against HIV globally, advancements for children are lagging behind.