Posted by Jennifer After the success of the photo-therapy project with Surrey street youth the summer before, kids kept hounding me for another group. I wrote a few grant proposals, and landed a fantastic contract to provide "decor" for the World Urban Forum. I proposed that we would create 8 wall-sized photos representing the UN"s 8 millennium development goals through the eyes of street youth. In addition, we would provide 10,000 packages of 8 postcards for delegates, again with different photographic, visual interpretations of the UN's 8 Millennium Development Goals. And the project began. Thinking globally, acting locally… Organizers •Globe Foundation Canada Installation viewed on May 29th, 2006 Links to media coverage: http://surreytechlab.ca/data/text/EX_CURRENT_Millennium_Project_information.pdf http://www.ultraviolet.co.uk/life-through-a-healing-lens-a-special-ph.html
on 11/13/2006, 8:42 pm
209.53.175.250
The Millennium Project
At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, world leaders agreed to a set of goals to meet the needs of the world’s poorest people. These goals address poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and other issues. These Millennium Development Goals are the inspiration for a photo-therapy project with at-risk youth from the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
More than one billion people – one-sixth of the world’s population – live in extreme poverty, lacking the safe water, proper nutrition, basic health care and social services needed to survive. This means a single episode of disease, an ill-timed pregnancy, a drought or a crop-destroying pest can be the difference between life and death. The consequences of this poverty reach far beyond the afflicted societies. Poverty, inequality and disease are chief causes of violent conflict, civil war and state failures. A world with extreme poverty is a world of insecurity.
The Participants:
Over 25 youth between the ages of 13-24 participated in the Millennium Project. These at-risk youth have personally been affected by issues of social exclusion, poverty, violence, illiteracy, discrimination, homelessness, and addictions. Each week youth discussed how these issues have touched their lives, and took photos related to their personal interpretations of the Millennium Development Goals. These photos serve as powerful messages of hope, and have mobilized positive change for themselves, and hopefully the world!
The Millennium Development Goals:
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women Goal 4: Reduce child mortality Goal 5: Improve maternal health Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Goals of the Group:
• Promote the mental health and wellness of youth by engaging them in a positive activity that facilitates discussion
• Encourage youth voice and participation in social activism
• Give youth an opportunity to speak out about issues that are important to them and that have personal meaning for them
The Millennium Project is a joint effort of KAYA (Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association) and ACRP (Adolescent Crisis Response Program) of Fraser Health. The project Coordinators/Facilitators for this project were Jennifer Mervyn (ACRP) and Summer-Rain Bentham (KAYA). The Globe Foundation of Canada on behalf of the World Urban Forum has generously funded this project
The Exhibition:
On May 29th, the Surrey Art Gallery exhibited the 240 photographs taken by the youth during this project. Over 300 community members visited the exhibit and made recommendations on photos to be used for the World Urban Forum. 16 photos were chosen – two for each of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. Half will be made into 80,000 postcards for the Forum delegates, with the other half made into wall hangings to be displayed at the Forum.
All sixteen photographs chosen for the World Urban Forum are on display here, at the Surrey Art Gallery, as part of the Urban Reality exhibition until August 27. The Surrey Art Gallery would like to acknowledge the support of Photo Expert in creating these enlargement prints.
Acknowledgements:
•World Urban Forum
•Photo Expert
•Save on Foods Delta
•Pacific Community Resource Society
•AIDS Vancouver
•Mountainview Conservation Center
•Surrey Food Bank
•Surrey Youth Clinic
•Fraser health Authority
•Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association
With thanks to:
•Stan Williams
•Suzanne Noel
•Moe Velji
•Cathy Massey
•Shelly Dennis
•Brian and Christina Crowe
•Heather Ouellette
http://www.fraserhealth.ca/News/NewsReleases/2006-05-16.htm
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