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Wa, Ghana – Ghanaian visual communication non-profit, Foto4Change – has introduced its visual storytelling project to the Wa School for the Deaf (WADEAF) in the Upper West Region.
An initial twenty (20) children from the school comprising 60% females and 40% males were selected to undergo the training which would span several weeks of the 2024/2025 academic year.
The Foto4Change Visual Storytelling for the Deaf (FVSD) project was started exactly a year ago at the Savelugu School for the Deaf in the Northern Region.
The project aims to empower marginalized communities and individuals by providing them with camera as a tool and training to become visual storytellers. With camera and visual storytelling, the organisation advocates for social justice, amplifies unheard voices, and fosters a deeper understanding of social issues across Ghana and Anglophone West Africa.
“…This initiative has been a beacon of our commitment to inclusivity, creativity, and empowerment through the transformative power of photography and storytelling”, Geoffrey Buta, Team Lead of Foto4Change said in his speech on Monday during the launch of FVSD project at WADEAF.
“At Foto4change, we believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that stories can change lives. However, for far too long, the deaf community has faced barriers in expressing their stories and having them heard in the wider world. Visual storytelling offers a unique medium that transcends spoken and written language, a universal way to connect, inspire, and advocate.
“Our project is not just about teaching photography skills or creating visual art. It is about empowerment, about equipping young deaf individuals with tools to share their experiences, challenges, and dreams. Through photography and multimedia, we are creating a platform for you, the students, to amplify your voices and advocate for your rights and potential”, he explained.
Mr. Buta commended his team members at Foto4Change saying “None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the Foto4change team, the unwavering support of our partners, and the warm reception we’ve received from this deaf society. To the teachers and staff of Wa School for the Deaf, we are deeply grateful for your guidance and collaboration.”
By the end of the 2024/2025 academic year, about 500 pupils of the Wa, Gbeogo and Savelugu Schools for the Deaf would have received training in photography and visual storytelling.
A brand new Nikon D3100 digital camera with accessories such as speed light, tripod, battery, battery charger and a 16gb memory card were donated to the school to enable the teachers and pupils undertake several weeks of photography and visual storytelling training.
Andreas Gbamekor, Headteacher of WADEAF expressed gratitude to Foto4Change and its partners for adding his school to the list of beneficiaries of the FVSD project.
He promised to put to good use the video equipment received and hoped that the vision of Foto4Change would come to fruition.
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/Philip Liebs
