The Tottering Mama

November 8, 2013. The day when Supertyphoon Yolanda claimed thousands of lives and wreaked havoc literally wiping out entire towns. One year hence, survivors are still trying to re-build their homes and firmly holding on to hope for a better future. Much has yet to be done for the affected provinces to fully recover and for measures to be set in place so that such devastation does not happen again. Still, with resilience and tenacity, the Filipinos courageously face the aftermath of Yolanda and patiently strive to make a better future for those who have survived.

Right after the fateful day, UNICEF was among those who readily shared their resources to those who desperately needed help. To this day, they have continued to provide whatever support they could including instituting various programs to help children cope with life.

Yesterday, UNICEF Philippines launched an EYE SEE Photography Exhibition in Tacloban. Photos exhibited were taken by children survivors who were asked to take photographs of hopeful scenes in Tacloban. The twenty young photographers featured in the exhibition were from different bunkhouses in Tacloban and were chosen to take part in a photography workshop organized by UNICEF and the Tacloban City Social Welfare Development office. The exhibition itself was great, the displays were apparently done by John Gibson Displays, according to my friend. Whoever they were done by, they look fantastic!!

The photo exhibition “Through the Eyes of Children – Stories of Hope and Resilience in Tacloban” will be on display until 15 January 2015 in Robinsons Place Tacloban, and on November 20 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia. You can also view photos on the EYE SEE portal site and the UNICEF Philippines Flickr site.

Read more about this Eye See Photography Exhibition in the press release posted below. 🙂

Young children photographers performed energetic dance numbers during the launch of the EYE SEE Photo Exhibition

(Press Release)

One year after Typhoon Yolanda: EYE SEE Photo Exhibition tell children’s stories of hope and resilience

One year after Super Typhoon Yolanda, children affected by the disaster are hopeful about what the future brings. The photography exhibition launched today entitled “Through the Eyes of Children – Stories of Hope and Resilience in Tacloban,” feature images by young photographers on how families are recovering and rebuilding their lives a year after the typhoon, as part of the EYE SEE project with Sony Corporation.

(from L-R): World-renowned UNICEF photographer Giacomo Pirozzi, Sony Philippines’ Erica dela Cruz, UNICEF Representative in the Philippines Lotta Sylwander and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez with the young photographers and their best photos.

Twenty young photographers from different bunkhouses in Tacloban took part in a photography workshop organized by UNICEF and the Tacloban City Social Welfare Development office. Photography offers these children a chance to voice their emotions through the lens, paving the way to self-discovery and social participation.

Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Representative in the Philippines

Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Representative in the Philippines, said, “Children are the most vulnerable in major natural disasters, but they are not passive victims; they play a vital role not only in helping to rebuild, but also in reducing risk and strengthening resilience in the longer term.

At this one year mark after Typhoon Yolanda, it was important for UNICEF to offer children the creative opportunity to have their voices heard. The children’s range of experience is widened and their eyes opened to possibilities beyond their circumstances. It encourages them to actively participate in their environment and hopefully become instruments of change in their own lives and the lives of their communities.”

Beyond expanding their creative horizons through photography, the true strength of photography is its ability to give a voice and a means of expression. The EYE SEE project also provides a platform for these children to meet with people living beyond their community, which not only expands their range of experiences, but also makes known to them that they are not alone.

Above all, it encourages them to think of the possibilities beyond their circumstances, and become instruments of change in their own lives and the lives of their communities.

Jopet Arce, 16, voted by his fellow young photographers as the Best Photographer said the workshop has had a positive change on him. “I never really thought I had any talent in photography. Who knew it could open my eyes to a lot of things, and make me look at life differently? Maybe this is where my future is” he says.

First organised in Pakistan after the October 2005 earthquake, EYE SEE was initially focused on documenting children’s experiences in displacement camps. Guided by their CSR philosophy “For the Next Generation”, Sony has supported 17 EYE SEE workshops for children living in 14 countries, affected by disasters such as the 2011 Tsunami in Japan.

Erica dela Cruz Sony Philippines’ Assistant Manager for Marketing Communications

“Sony shares the same belief as UNICEF in the significance of children in shaping the next generation, and trust the power of imaging to provide the creative expression and inspiration for them to do so” said Mr. Nobuyoshi Otake, President & Managing Director of Sony Philippines. “EYE SEE not only gives them a voice, but more importantly a platform for them to share their stories of tenacity and hope with the rest of the world.”

Beyond the photo exhibition, Sony has supported communities affected by Typhoon Yolanda with aid and volunteer work via employee engagement, and will continue to share the travelling exhibit on social media.

Maulid Warfa, Chief of UNICEF Tacloban Office

UNICEF’s response to Typhoon Yolanda continues with the agency now focused on long-term development work to empower communities in their recovery. Over the last twelve months, UNICEF has rapidly scaled up humanitarian action, working in partnership to help local governments, civil society partners and communities, to build back better.

“Through the Eyes of Children – Stories of Hope and Resilience in Tacloban” will be on display until 15 January 2015 in Robinsons Place Tacloban, and on November 20 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia. Photos can also be viewed on the EYE SEE portal site at www.sony.net/eyesee and the UNICEF Philippines Flickr site at www.flickr.com/photos/unicefphils.