The
positive negatives exhibition is a set of photographs taken by women
living in the Democratic Republic of Congo and who are living with
the effects of HIV/AIDS.
Organised
by Christian Aid partner Foundation Femme Plus, the project taught
the women to use cameras with which to take photographs of their
lives.
This
is an important project because it gives these women a voice with
which to describe the indescribable.
The
exhibition will tour Herefordshire in the month prior to World Aids
Day (December 1st) to raise awareness of the situation that millions
infected or affected by AIDS find themselves in.
|
Photo
from the positive negatives exhibition |
It
will culminate in All Saints Church Hereford on the 1st of December
where for a reflection on what AIDS means to people today, will
take place at 7.30pm.
An
opportunity to find out more about HIV/AIDS and its effects will
be on offer in Hightown Hereford during 1st December where shoppers
will be asked to stop a while and consider the situation themselves.
Julie's
story
Julie
is one of the photographers from the Congo:
Julie
received two proposals of marriage, one from a mechanic, and the
other from a man with a car.
She
married the one with a car.
Julie
became pregnant and gave birth to a little girl.
Her
daughter became very ill and died.
Julie
also became ill and went to see a doctor who confirmed that she
was HIV positive.
She
was very shocked, did a lot of thinking and praying before deciding
to divorce her husband and go back to live with her parents.
But
after her parents also died life became very difficult for her and
her younger brothers and sisters.
With
no-one to help them, they lost their home and were forced to sleep
outside.
Julie's
friends deserted her, she felt totally alone and isolated.
Then
she heard about Foundation Femme Plus, who offered help with food
and medical care.
She
also joined a photographic project they ran which she says "聟really
helped me, it has made me more open about myself.
"Despite
my illness I do have hope聟"
Take
a look at some pictures of the positive negatives exhibition
in our photo gallery. |
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