Photographer puts his school in the picture
A FORMER Everest Primary School pupil is giving the school the gift of exposure.
Photographer Mikail Hansa kicked off a campaign called Focus on Education this week.
The project aims to give pupils from disadvantaged schools the chance to tackle new experiences through photography.
Hansa said creating the project was his way of giving back to his old school and living up to his ethos that “education is empowerment”.
He presented the Chatsworth school with a package worth R5 000, containing one 14-megapixel camera and editing equipment.
Everest Primary School principal Jaychand Neerachand said running Focus on Education at the school would not only allow pupils to develop photography skills, but open them up to communication as well. “They will start talking about this, discussing ideas and making suggestions, and their social and language skills will grow.”
The pictures taken during the course of the year by the school’s 461 pupils will be put on display in its hall.
“This will tremendously motivate the pupils and show them a world of opportunity,” said Neerachand.
Hansa plans to have more schools selected during the course of the year. He hopes they will complete photograph assignments on school grounds. The best of the images will be submitted to the photographer.
“The winning school will receive a prize tailored to what the school might require — if the right people or institutions come forward to contribute to the project.
“We would also like to sponsor a bursary every year to the winning student who presents the best overall image and who has a passion for photography,” said Hansa.
Those interested in the programme need to motivate why their school should be selected. A panel of judges will review each of the submissions and the selected schools will be presented with packages.
“Photography lessons will follow, but there won’t be any exams and no one goes to the ‘dark room’,” said Hansa.