Durham News Features - View Article - Teaching them to see another way

UXBRIDGE -- Two years ago, an idea clicked in the mind of an Uxbridge photographer.

After watching an Academy-award winning documentary titled 'Born into Brothels' -- a story about children in the 'red light' district of Calcutta who are given cameras and taught to take their own photographs (which are now for sale) -- Robert Cook, also a York drama teacher, was so inspired by the film he met with two colleagues to brainstorm what they could do.

"That was my spark," he said, of the film.

Through cooperation with the Monduli Pastoralist Development Initiative (MPDI), and launching a fundraising campaign, the ability to accomplish a goal similar to 'Brothels' became possible. Even without corporate sponsorships, Mr. Cook said $40,000 was raised, enough to send a team of nine into the Maasai communities of the Monduli District in Tanzania, Africa, from July 2-11.

They took 24 digital cameras with them, which were put into the hands of Monduli District teachers, students, and elders. The initial excitement created by the cameras was almost overwhelming, explained Mr. Cook, noting students would drape themselves over him to get a better look at the digital wonders.

"It was intense," he said.

He noted the group taught teachers how to use the cameras, who would then pass along that knowledge to the students. In the classroom, "there was no electricity, no paper, no pens... it was an exercise in improvisation," said Mr. Cook. Luckily for the students, the team brought a supply of rechargeable batteries to run the equipment. "We tried to create excitement for the kids, some walk 15 kilometres to school. When we brought out the cameras, there was a lot of excitement," he said. "They started yelling when the pictures were printed."

After getting a feel for the cameras, the students were sent out to take their own photos. "They'd take the pictures and then have to explain why they took that picture (to a group)," explained Mr. Cook.

Along with using cameras for aesthetic purposes, teachers also learned how to use them as tools to teach other subjects including math and science, he noted. Outside of teaching, the locals can use the technology "to remember people that died," he said. "This (photography) is something they can take control of."

The team has since returned to Canada but the cameras are still overseas, and can be signed out by village students, he explained.

For the next step, Mr. Cook hopes to see a gallery comprised of photos taken by the Tanzania residents. He noted it would be a costly endeavour, but he assured, "something's going to follow up."

For more information on the project, visit villagegalleries.org.