WHY WWW.THECHILDRENOFBOTSWANA.COM?
1. TO PROMOTE TCOBW'S EDUCATION FUND FOR THE VILLAGE OF MATHANGWANE
2. TO SELL PRINTS AND LICENSE REPRODUCTION RIGHTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY @ KEENE.ART
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GOALS OF THE HUMANITARIAN PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION
FOCUS AREA
For the children from Mathangwane, Botswana, Africa and the surrounding villages of Sashe West.
1) To Promote TCOBW's Education fund for the HIV/AIDS and disadvantage children of Mathangwane, Botswana, Africa
2) To sell prints & manage reproduction rights of the TCOBW Collection @ Keene.Art
CREATING #TCOBW'S PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION
Sometime mid 2006, Michel Karman (BW Master Printer in Los Angeles) and I created the idea for The Children of Botswana: A Humanitarian Photography Collection to help educate Botswana's HIV/AIDS and Disadvantage Children.
Production started in June 2007 throughout November 2009: 40 children (ages 8-17); social workers from SOS; Volunteers from the Anglican Diocese of Botswana (mainly moms); and I photographed Botswana.
The plastic Holga Camera was chosen because it allowed us to use Kodak Tri-X medium format film. The latter has always been a preference since my Wet Lab days with James Fee at Pasadena's Art Center College. Together - the camera and film - renders a beautiful and intrinsic poetic reality of any subject matter.
Furthermore, for our volunteer photographers, this was was not only an introductory lesson to photography. Additionally, it was about teaching the children that they not only have rights but also responsibilities towards their own communities. Thereby a lesson not only of empowerment but at the same time inculcating in them a sense of responsibility towards other children, as well as their own communities and country as as a whole.
~ Annelize Bester | THUTO.
#TCOBW'S EDUCATION FUND
Over the last 40 years, Botswana's economy has achieved one of the highest growth rates in the world, with diamonds and mining fueling much of the growth. It is the crown jewel of Africa: economically strong, politically stable, peaceful, with vast natural resources, strong credit ratings, and low crime.
But for all of Botswana's progress and momentum, the country is plagued by one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world. The fallout on children has been particularly harsh. As of 2007, nearly 120,000 children had lost one or both parents to AIDS. Today one in five children in Botswana are orphaned.
CHRONOLOGY OF DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION
2014 A group of volunteers from Rainbow Primary participates in final round of production for photo book to be published by Nazraeli Press.
2013 Louisa Irojiogu - one of Tshiamo Primary's Volunteer Photographers (2007) creates social media strategy; implements #tcobw & creates marketing image of volunteers (round framing of self-portraits used as a cover photo @ facebook.com/tcobw)
2013 A Selection of Photography is chosen for drkrm gallery's Developing Change Exhibition
2012 drkrm's Marketing Director, Julie Towner, starts planning of Developing Change
2012 A Selection of Photography is presented at the WILLIAM inaugural event in Los Angeles
2010 Gerd Ludwig (National Geographic Photographer)< assistant Lusitana and Annelize Bester edits first group of children's photography
2009 Annelize Bester continues production of archive
2008 Viky Fay co-ordinates photography in Francistown, Botswana
2007 Members of the Anglican Diocese - parents and children - helps production of archive
2007 A&I's owner, Baret Lepejian pledges support for development and processing of film
2006 Michel Karman, master B&W printer at A&I, and Annelize Bester creates idea for production of www.thechildrenofbotswana.org
THANK-YOU!:
To everyone who helped create The Children of Botswana Photography Collection
My parents, Michel Karman, Baret Lepejian,
Rt. Rev. Trevor Mwamba, Anglican Bishop of Botswana (2007 - 2012),
Jessica Inga, Victoria Musodza, Susan Mogwera, Juliana Gabona,
Volunteers (Mothers and Fathers) from The Anglican Diocese of Botswana,
All School Principals for allowing photography on schools' campuses,
SOS Social Workers: Marotho and Mabedi,
The Anglican Taskforce for TAISBA,
and the children.
A Sincere Thank-You ~ Annelize Bester | THUTO