From July 18 to 25, 2024, YSP USA, in collaboration with YSP Africa, conducted a youth-driven photography project in Lusaka, Zambia. Led by John Koester, UN Advocacy Advisor for YSP USA, and Ricardo J. Partida, an experienced photographer and Education Coordinator at the Bronx Documentary Center, the initiative aimed to empower local youth by providing disposable cameras to document their lives, communities, and experiences.
This project wasn’t just about photography; it was also about understanding the challenges youth face. During this trip, YSP representatives visited Kigali, Rwanda, and Nairobi, Kenya, in addition to Lusaka. In each city, they met with local YSP chapters to engage in conversations with youth about their experiences, struggles, and hopes for the future. These discussions were invaluable in understanding the unique challenges faced by young people in different regions and provided an opportunity for YSP to tailor their support and initiatives to better meet their needs. By listening to their stories and gaining insight into their realities, YSP was able to strengthen its mission to empower and uplift youth across Africa.
The core of the project was storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool for youth to express their experiences, emotions, and aspirations. For young people, being able to document their lives and share their perspectives is not only empowering but also a form of self-discovery. Photography was the medium through which the youth could tell their stories, transcending language and cultural barriers. Through the disposable cameras provided by YSP USA, youth in Lusaka and Nairobi were encouraged to capture moments that reflected their daily lives, challenges, and dreams for the future. In Kigali, the focus was similarly on giving youth the opportunity to reflect on their lives and share their voices.
On July 20, John Koester and Ricardo J. Partida hosted an introductory photography workshop in Lusaka, where participants learned about the basics of visual storytelling and composition. This workshop set the tone for the photography project, encouraging the youth to use their cameras as a tool for expressing their identities and documenting their communities. Throughout the trip, the youth were engaged in conversations about the role of storytelling in creating change and how their photographs could amplify their voices on a global scale.
On July 23 and 24, the cameras were collected from the participants for development, and they had the chance to reflect on their experiences. In addition to sharing the photos they had captured, youth discussed how they could use storytelling to address the challenges they face in their communities and bring about positive change. The images created a powerful narrative about the resilience, hopes, and struggles of youth in Lusaka, Nairobi, and Kigali, while also highlighting the universal desire for opportunity and empowerment.
