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Camera Lenses Capture Life after Tsunami
A Red Cross photography project provides children with an opportunity to share experiences as they see it, through their own eyes
By Jennifer Lubrani, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Friday, December 21, 2007 — Disasters strike quickly and often without warning. While these events may be frightening for anyone, they can be particularly traumatic for children who struggle to make sense of what they are seeing and hearing.
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“He was a very old man carrying a heavy sack and I felt sad for him. But the heavy sack will help him earn money for his livelihood. I learned a lot of things through this project. I’m very happy I got the opportunity to join this project with the American Red Cross and Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.”
(Photo: G. M. Kavinda Krishan Fernando, 10-year-old boy, from Kalutara, Sri Lanka)
Photo Exhibit: Through the Eyes of Children |
One such disaster occurred December 26, 2004, when a tsunami struck South Asia and devastated the lives of countless youths and their families.
“The tsunami was a terrible experience. I saw the disaster happen in front of my eyes,” recalls 11-year-old, Nur Khalid Akbar. “I ran with my family to higher ground. We all remember how the tsunami swept everyone away.”
As a way to help survivors cope with the emotional effects following the tsunami, the American Red Cross engaged communities through its Psychosocial Support Program (PSP), activities designed to help people overcome emotional distress after a disaster.
Focusing attention on the emotional needs of the young, Psychosocial Support Program staff in Indonesia and Sri Lanka engaged 80 children, ages 6 through 14, to creatively document how their lives have changed and how their communities are recovering three years later.
Images of Lives Forever Changed
Children were provided disposable cameras to document family and friends, their surroundings, and things most important to them. The photography exercise was used to encourage children to express their lives and promote a renewed sense of community.
“I think this photo project is a wonderful event and it was easy for me to learn how to take pictures. It was so much fun,” said Azura Helmahera, a 10-year-old girl from Banda Aceh, Indonesia. “I was glad to join this project because by taking photos, I can see myself, my friends and families.”
The project resulted in thousands of images being captured and a collection of images that illustrate resilient youth and a community working together to move on with their lives.
To view the Red Cross photo exhibit, Through the Eyes of Children, please visit: http://www.redcross.org/tsunami.
As part of the world's largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross alleviates the suffering of victims of war, disaster and other international crises, and works with other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to improve chronic, life-threatening conditions in developing nations. We reconnect families separated by emergencies and educate the American public about international humanitarian law. This assistance is made possible through the generosity of the American public.
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