Slideshow of CDP photo exhibition

First ibali exhibition

The first ibali lefoto exhibition, of the CDPs photos, was held at Raglan Road Multi Purpose Centre in Grahamstown in June 2007.

The response to this exhibition was fantastic, and this exhibition has already been moved to two other venues since then: the Steve Biko-inspired exhibition during the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, and at a development conference held in Grahamstown in September.

First project: run with community workers

The first project was run with five Community Development Practitioners (CDPs) in Grahamstown. CDPs are members of the community trained by the Centre for Social Development (CSD) of Rhodes University to work full time assisting the most vulnerable families in their community. These five CDPs have had a phenomenal effect the lives of adults and children alike, always adapting to the individual’s needs.

Many people are unaware of the great work these women do on a day-to-day basis, and this project and the resulting exhibition serves to create more awareness and respect for their dedication to the community. These individuals have a particularly interesting story to tell, offering an insight into their lives as well as the lives of some of the poorest members of the Grahamstown community. This exhibition shows us, through the use of visuals, the stories which normally go unheard and unnoticed.

What is this project all about?

Ibali Lefoto (‘photo story’ in Xhosa) is a training and development project in Grahamstown, South Africa, which seeks to provide equipment and skills enabling the individual to tell their story in one of the most powerful ways possible – visually.

Ibali Lefoto officially launched early in 2007, running the program with groups in and around Grahamstown - all of which have been extremely successful so far.