Everyone has hope – a photo exhibition

“EVERYONE HAS HOPE” photo exhibition lunched on Thursday November 18, at the Annexe Gallery in Central Market Annexe, Kuala Lumpur.

The photography exhibition, presented by “See the World Through Our Eyes project” a group of Taylor’s College students and lecturer, show photographs shot by 16 refugee children from Chin State in Burma aged between 13 and 16 years old.

Organized with the support of British Council’s Global Changemakers, Amnesty International Malaysia and several partners, this aim of project is to allow these children to develop skills in the arts, have fun, and tell their story to the world.

Colin Boyd Shafer, Pre-University programme lecturer at Taylor’s College who organise this project said the project was inspired by “Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids” documentary from India. His students wanted to do something after watching this film. 

His group conducted photojournalism training to children from the Association of Chin Refugees School for 3 months. Shafer and the students involved in the project got their families and friends from Malaysia and Canada to donate their used cameras. He also sold his photographs to buy new ones.

Formally, Malaysia ratified to the Convention on the Rights of the Child or CRC. However, in practical all refugee children living in Malaysia cannot attend regular schools.

Nora Murat, Executive Director Amnesty International Malaysia, the organization that support this photo exhibition said AI Malaysia also continue to campaign this issue to public concerns and Malaysia Government.

“We will continue to work in this project. One of our key thing is we want to ask for ratification for the Conventional of Refugee. And by this ratification one of the more important things, especially for the children is for them to be given in education. And we need to ask the government to start this issue. This strategic is the responsibility of these children who live in our country.”, said Nora.

“Everyone Has Hope” photo exhibition is held until this Saturday November 27, at the Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe, Jalan Hang Kasturi, Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition is open from 11 am to 8 pm daily. Admission is free.

Video by Citizen Journalist Pong Pan