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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sajja - A reformed Labor Camp

Would you be interested in going for a photography exhibition where the pictures are clicked not by eminent famous Photographers but by the workers from a certain labour camp? I had been looking forward to this exhibition from the time I heard about it. The owner of Sajja labour camp went absconding from the country due to the economic downturn. Result being, the employees (the laborers) were left stranded on their own without their passport, and a camp to stay in with no basic amenities like water & electricity. The National newspaper mentioned, they were staying without pay for 18 months!

'Adopt a camp' - (an organization that has been working with laborers in labor camp since few years) discovered about them and adopted them. A Documentary photographer Karen Dias taught them basic photography skills through donated cameras. They had never held a camera in their hand but gradually through constant encouragement, the laborers progressed from clicking posed snapshots to everyday life images which narrated a story behind them. Karen's aim behind these photographs was to share it with the public and generate income for the laborers. The National newspaper said, few of them have already managed getting jobs with the help of Adopt-a-camp. The exhibition is organized by Gulf Photo Plus and each photograph is available in two sizes for the public to buy. For the complete story and details you can check the Gulf Photo Plus here.

I have captured a few pics from my visit to the Gallery, the exhibition started on January 18th and is on till February 16th. I read the workers were so excited for their opening night, that they left their camps in Sharjah at 10:30 in the morning for a 7:30 show! Obviously it meant a lot to them. I saw them enjoying getting photographs clicked, giving interviews and being the center of attraction. The joy and happiness they felt was evident on their faces. Everybody had a picture clicked with them, even me!

Its these laborers who built our cities so convenient and beautiful for us to stay comfortably. This was such a heart warming, inspiring & brilliant act put together that I could not stop myself from sharing it here.

 










The Photographers :)



Busy being the center of attraction!


 
 


The entire team who made this possible



The pictures you see behind are the individual photoshoot done for each of them,
and they get these pictures as gifts




11 comments:

  1. Lovely! Wish I was there too. This is a really inspiring and exemplary thing Prachee :)

    Lovely clicks! :D

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  2. Awesome,Prachee. What a lovely post.


    Follow each other.

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  3. Hi Prachee
    What a wonderful feeling it must have been to visit the exhibition. It was very inspirational to read about Sajja. I hope that the laborers get united with their families soon.

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    1. It was inspirational indeed,and they were so proud of being the newly turned photographer!

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  4. Such a nice way of rehabilitating the labourers! Adopt a camp should be appreciated. As for the 'photographers', the hope and enthusiasm in their eyes are priceless.

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    1. Very True, I was happy to be present at that time. Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)

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  5. Loved it and sad that I missed it!

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    1. Thanks and u can still check it out, its on till 16th feb

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  6. Oh wow!! Yes.. I've read a fair bit about these labour camps too.. Its sad .. isnt it?? But the exhibition must have been .. one of a kind.. and an experience all together..

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