TBWA\Australia has launched a global photography exhibition to raise funds for “Room 13” International.
“Room 13” began when a group of enterprising children established a student-run art studio in 1994. With a focus on fostering creativity and self-reliance among students in underserved communities, the studios gave students the tools they need to express themselves. Now with more than 60 studios worldwide, thousands of young people have been inspired to explore their creativity.
In October, a team of volunteers from across TBWA collective participated in SIYEZA (meaning “we are coming” in isiZulu)—a five-day photo-adventure across South Africa. TBWA teams, led by Emmanuel Andre, President, International at TBWA Worldwide, visited five different “Room 13” studios to teach photography skills to “Room 13” students and raise crucial funds for the studios in South Africa. In addition to his “day job,” Andre is an accomplished photographer whose portraits have been published and featured in galleries around the world.
The “Room 13” exhibition will include photographs featuring young people of South African townships who participated in SIYEZA. The sessions are aimed to unlock the talents of young people by giving them a rare opportunity to learn photography skills and explore their own creative intuitions.
“SIYEZA is a great example of how TBWA and “Room 13” International are working together to empower a connected, global network of young artists. These images capture the energy and spirit of the young artists, and the whole project embodies our shared mission to inspire and enable young people’s creativity,” said Claire Gibb, chief executive of “Room 13” International.
