Togo: Photography Workshop Increases Attendance at Center for Girls

PSI/Togo’s Little Sister to Sister Center, which provides health services and vocational training to at-risk girls, recently completed a photography project with visual media consultant Jared Macary. The program aimed to increase the girls’ confidence, offer a window into the girls’ private lives and give them an outlet for creative expression. Participants in the project learned the basics of photography, including framing, flash, composition, and perspective techniques.

Participants shot images based on particular themes such as “dreams” or “family.” For one participant, 19-year-old Claire, this was her first time ever using a camera and the first time she spoke openly about her private life and aspirations. She reported that she felt extremely proud to see her pictures and that her nine weeks in photography training were "very, very magnificent."

Developed photos offered immediate results and generated excitement among the girls. PSI/Togo staff reported that the photography project participants began to attend the center with greater regularity. With the success of this project, PSI/Togo is researching additional workshops with short-term concrete results such as soap-making and bread-baking to further stimulate interest and attendance at the center.

— Michelle Geiss

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Little Sister Center participants practice high and low angle techniques. Photo: Olivia, Little Sister Center Photography Project participant.