After Google Map Maker Global Competition Winner Wayne Dell Manuel chooses UNICEF Philippines as the recipient of the $50,000 Price, "Through A Child’s Lens: An Exhibition of a Children’s Photography Workshop in the Philippines” was made possible as UNICEF Philippines and Share A Child Movement unveiled it at SM City Cebu. The Photography Workshop Exhibit comprising over 40 photographs taken by Cebu City high school students to express their views on violence against children was made possible.

Children’s Photos Sends Message to End Violence
The exhibition is a result of a five-day photography workshop with 20 high school students, aged 12 to 16, from urban and upland public schools around Cebu City. The activity is part of Children Against Violence, a campaign that gives children an opportunity to express their views and opinions about violence. The Cebu workshop and exhibit was organized together with Share A Child Movement, SUPACA Youth Group (Sugbuanong Pundok Aron Sugpuon ang Child Abuse) supported by the Council for the Welfare of Children, Google and SM Supermalls.
Photography as a tool for self-expression
UNICEF trainer and photographer Giacomo Pirozzi taught the participants the basics of digital camera photography and using the art of photography as a tool for self-expression. Many of them were inspired to continue the use of the camera as a tool for expressing their reality, especially in helping address the situation of children less fortunate than themselves. “The truth hurts,” says Jesse Arceo, 14, one of the participants. “My dream for the future is to be a woman who will show and shout to the world the reality that always hurts us.”

Photographer and trainer Giacomo Pirozzi has over twenty years experience documenting children’s lives for UNICEF around the world. He has been holding these workshops for children in many different situations from Gaza strip to South Africa. To effectively share these messages, Pirozzi believes the children must first produce beautiful photographs.
“It does not matter if they are in Africa or Latin America, children relate to other children, they want to hear their stories and they identify with them,” he says. “When it comes to ask children and what they want to photograph, they immediately want to talk about themselves, their world, and their reality.”
Towards a Child-Friendly Education Environment
The exhibit comes on the heels of the study “Towards a Child-Friendly Education Environment” which put forth findings on violence against children in the public school settings and gives insight and evidence-based information to aid legislators, media practitioners and the public sector on the sensitive topic of violence against children (VAC).
“Violence against children can occur in different settings— in schools, at home, on the streets, in communities, places of work, and on the internet. The physical, emotional and psychological scars of violence can rob children of their basic human rights. Through this exhibit, we empower young people to raise awareness on issues that affect them especially violence” says UNICEF Deputy Representative Abdul Alim. “Today marks World Aids Day. In the Philippines, recent studies show more than four new cases of HIV infections every day, a third of them among young people ages 15-24 years old. Children have the right to information at the right time to enable them to lead happy, healthy lives” he added.
UNICEF works for the protection of children against violence, abuse and exploitation and supports the government in its efforts to strengthen mechanisms to curb violence against children in all its forms and pushes for the anti-corporal punishment bill’s passage into law.
The photo exhibit of children by children will be traveling to various locations in Cebu and Manila to advocate the passage of the Anti-Corporal Punishment bill.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.Visit www.unicef.ph
Google Map Maker Global Competition Winner chooses UNICEF Philippines as the recepient of the $50,000 Price posted at Cebu Events Blog