Hail

While the rest of the group are working on their stories in Orange Farm I've been in town trying to get stuff done. Except there was a power cut for several hours today probably because of the rain. Well not rain exactly - I got hit by hailstones when I went out earlier. Rather confusing.

Workshops

The workshops are now focusing on digital stories - we've called in some help in the form of Moshe, Matthews and Mzukisi who are photographers and filmmakers to help with the process. It's been an exciting emotional day for the group as they begin telling stories about their life and experiences.

Group Outing

It's been a busy time for the group.

Here are photos from our outing to Jo'burg earlier in the week.
We visited Museum Africa which has a great set of exhibitions particularly the history of photography. After lunch we went to WomensNet which has also done it's own digital storytelling project. Then onto the Jo'burg Art Gallery across town. With some dancing along the way.

Cameras

The police eventually returned the cameras, after much to-ing and fro-ing.

Maggie told me about it all. The policeman wanted to take her camera and she said; "If you take my camera then give me your gun."

Apparently the policeman is now a great supporter of the project and wants updates on how we are all doing. Scared of exposure obviously.

A shift

There's been a shift in some of the group. We were discussing how it had gone during last week with their photography projects - who they'd photographed, where they'd photographed, what they'd learnt - that sort of thing.

I found myself talking to some very angry young people. One of the boys said it was all different now he had his camera and photography skills. He saw his community and the issues in it differently, in the past he wouldn't question what he saw or heard. Now he does.
Both he and another girl had been photographing in shebeens and talking to the shebeen owners who were saying they didnt have a problem with selling alcohol to people who were under 18. All that matters was the money coming in. Where was the money going - to their own childrens' education.

These two were shocked and disappointed in the adults, in their attitude to money and doing anything to get it, including ruining childrens' lives.

I got a phone call last night and today - two girls have had their cameras confiscated by the police because they'd photographed a policeman beating up an innocent man in Orange Farm. The police had seen the girls with their cameras and taken them. They have to go to the station tomorrow. I explained on the phone that if it was necessary delete the photos they'd taken to get the police off their back - then they should. It may help to make the problem go away. One of the girls said 'But I can't delete those photos - what they were doing was wrong.' She'd already told the police the same thing. It was her duty to record what she'd seen and use it.

It's an exciting time.

Thoroughly Modern Millie

I had a meeting at Johannesburg Civic Theatre....COMING SOON...'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. On the poster is a blonde-bobbed girl in some 20's cabaret outfit.

What a strange place - Modern Millie rubbing shoulders with the actors in an Athol Fugard play and Jay Z.

Filling up at the petrol station today, taking advantage of lower petrol prices. The guy fills up the tank, washes the windscreen, checks the oil and water and the tyre pressure while I sit in the car. At the supermarket someone packs my shopping into a bag while I stand waiting. At the guesthouse someone cleans my room, washes my dishes while I work.

Someone used the phrase the 'culture of entitlement' that exists in South Africa. He didnt mean the situations above but how that's what exists for the average South African post-Apartheid.

We talk about the image South Africa is creating of itself for its own people. In the soaps and adverts on TV there's colourful textiles, masks, drumming and cowrie shells. When you look out of the window you see something different.

Contradictions whichever way you look.

Meetings and Rain

It's been raining on and off all day and I cant decide whether I should get an umbrella or a mac-thing. So everything will be damp til then.

Meetings and planning - that's been the last two days in a nutshell.

I had a meeting with Ayi, Matthews and Moshe yesterday. Matthews and Moshe are two photographers who Ayi hooked me up with. They will be working as support facilitators on the project helping the group create their digital stories. Very exciting to make these connections between people. It'll also be fun working with people with so much creativity and energy.

And today I'm hoping to meet mike the Reuters photographer who is keen to participate in the project as well - running a workshop hopefully.

And lots of planning - workshops for this week, the schedule for the next few weeks.....