WORKSHOP
The workshop is addressed to kids and youth in underprivileged schools where art is not included in the daily school life. Especially in countries where good education is the privilege of the rich society, poor families can’t afford to pay for extra art classes for their children. Picha Poa wants to give these children the possibility to join in the field of photography.
The workshop is a combination of theory and practice. In the beginning the students will learn the basics about photography: Where does photography come from? What is photography? Where do we use it?
The students will be taught some creative techniques to take a good picture and how to use a camera of course!
But the creative part of photography is the most important part of the workshop. It doesn’t matter which device they use - DSLR, compact camera, smartphone - but they can always remember the creative rules to take an interesting photograph to tell the stories they want to tell with their images. To create a „picha poa“!
The theory should be immediately combined with practical exercises to check out what they have learned so far. Different exercises are included in the workshop, depending of the surrounding and condition of the school. But a portrait shoot just like a street photography shoot in the streets of their home are important lessons of the workshop. After every shoot all the pictures will be copied, viewed, reworked and the results will be presented to the students. Together we analyze the images and the kids will get advices to improve their work. But they do not necessarily have to follow the advices because there is no right or wrong in photography. Like every other art it’s a subjective art and you can’t say that a picture is wrong if only one person likes it.
Ideally in the end of the workshop the students will have developed an idea about documentary and street photography. The results of their work they can admire and share with their classmates in an exhibition that will be organized in their school. The students can take home printouts of the pictures. To give something back to the students, schools and partners, an exhibition in Germany will be organized as well. Chosen photographs from the workshop are presented and up for sale. The purchased money will be used to support the school or to build a regular photography class in the school.
IDEA
The idea of Picha Poa was born in Kibera, Kenya in June 2018 at the driveway of the KAG School. The Kenya Assembly of God Educational Center is one of the partner schools of the One Fine Day e.V. and Anno’s Africa. One Fine Day is a non-profit, alternative art program founded by Marie Steinmann and Tom Tykwer, that runs different art classes in Kibera and Mathare, two of Kenyas biggest slums. Once a week they are teaching dance, art, music and drama in each school included in the school lessons.
In cooperation with One Fine Day the first Picha Poa Workshop could take place in January 2019 at KAG School. Supported by Canon Germany and financed with fundings from family and friends raised in a crowd funding, the workshop could have been realized.
After four weeks of photography class the pictures that have been taken by the students were so unexpectedly good, that it was pretty clear: Picha Poa has to continue doing photography workshops!
For more information about One Fine Day and Anno’s Africa visit their websites!
WHO IS PICHA POA
I am Jana Fitzner, born in Schwedt / Oder. I am a photographer and assistant camera person for film and TV. Because of my work I was able to travel across the world and got to know different countries and cultures. The more different the country the more I was excited to explore the place and challenging my own limits. For One Fine Day Films I was allowed to mentor two movies („Supa Modo“, Lusala“). Since the first time I’m in love with Kenya! In July 2018 the idea of Picha Poa was born in Kibera when I was visiting the art classes of One Fine Day for the first time. Picha Poa is the project of my heart and I’m happy about everyone who wants to support me and my work.
For more information about One Fine Day Films visit the website!
Uschi Feldges is a Berlin based producer and owns the film production company BAGAGE Film together with her partner Sonja Heitmann. Together with Uschi I was working on „Lusala“ for One Fine Day Films in 2018. She was the production mentor. For the „Kibera Born“ exhibition in the „erstererster“ gallery in Berlin we worked again side by side. Uschi became an important part of Picha Poa and decided to help me in the organization for the second workshop.
Moses Otieno Onditi, called Donga, is a city tour guide in Nairobi, Kenya. He grew up on the streets of downtown CBD and raised himself the hard way of life. We met during the Nai Nami city tour where he and other former street kids share their stories with interested people from all over the world. One sentence he told me, I will never forget: "You can't choose where you are born!" Simple but so true.
Donga's story and the stories of other people have inspired me to start Picha Poa. He is still inspiring me everyday and believes in the power of sharing knowledge!
Find more information about Donga and Nai Nami on their website:
www.nai-nami.com
With Canon Germany I could acquire a strong equipment partner which supported me with the camera gear I needed for the workshop. I hope that Canon Germany will support Picha Poa for upcoming projects as well!
To finance the first workshop I invested private money and raised funds on gofundme.com. Friends and family members have donated money for an unknown adventure that luckily turned into a great experience. To continue the work of Picha Poa and to teach more kids and teenagers in countries where art has a secondary role, we are looking for support. We would be happy if you want to be a part of Picha Poa.
