THANK YOU – PHOTOS
People Behind the Projects
This installation hopes to shine a light on some of the leaders, facilitators and unsung heroes spearheading or playing an influential role in key projects at charities within the This Day ecosystem.
The “People Behind the Projects” exhibition celebrates the amazing work they do, and showcases why it is so important these projects continue in the future.
We worked with two portrait photographers, Marc Shoul (South Africa) and Béni Masiala (UK) to bring this exhibition to life. The photographers travelled across the UK and South Africa to shoot the amazing participants in the spaces where they live and work, allowing us a small snapshot into their world.
Photographers
MARC SHOUL
Marc Shoul was born in Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha, South Africa in 1975. He now lives and works in Johannesburg. He works largely in portraiture/documentary photography that observes the complex social issues in his country.
BÉNI MASIALA
London-raised and originally from Congo, Béni developed an interest in image-making and picked up his first point-and-shoot camera, an Olympus AF-1, from his father’s storage. Specialising in photo stories with a cinematic outlook his work seeks to tell stories, with the goal to create and inspire the world with new ideas that elevate the spirit of others.
Featured Charities
OUR SECOND HOME
The story of Our Second Home began with a group of former youth leaders. They knew how transformative it could be to grow up in a youth movement. They felt that these experiences should be open to the thousands of young refugees and migrants in the UK, many of whom lack the community and support that is so fundamental to building a life here and feeling at home. Young refugees and asylum seekers come on an OSH residential trip, they cook together, play games and learn dances from each other’s cultures. Many had their childhoods taken away from them and at Our Second Home they just get to be kids. The graduates of these trips take part in leadership training and go on to be the ones who take the reins. They help lead the movement. This is just the beginning of a positive cycle that just needs one big push. OSH is building the next generation of leaders from refugee backgrounds. These young migrants will become role models and leaders in our movement and in local communities, supporting those coming after.
HARAMBEE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ACCELERATOR
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works with partners to find solutions for the challenge of youth unemployment in South Africa. Their partners include government, the private sector, civil society and over 3.8 million youth who are committed to results that can work at scale. They are working to unlock jobs and break down the barriers that keep millions of young South Africans unemployed. Their vision is of a growing economy and society that works, powered by the potential of young people. Harambee is an anchor partner in a breakthrough platform called SA Youth which brings together many partners to create a single national network to allow young people to access a wide selection of jobs and skilling opportunities, and for opportunity holders to access young engaged work-seekers for free.
WOMEN FOR REFUGEE WOMEN
Empowering women who have sought asylum in the UK is the heart of their work. They support women who are seeking refuge from persecution, including rape and other torture, to rebuild their lives and communicate their own needs and stories. Women for Refugee Women’s vision is a world where women no longer need to seek asylum because they are safe from persecution and have equal power and access to opportunities. Through their programme of empowerment activities, they support a network of over 300 refugee and asylum-seeking women to develop their confidence and skills. They raise awareness of the injustices experienced by asylum-seeking and refugee women in the UK through media work and public events, informing policy makers in partnership with other organisations, and empowering asylum-seeking and refugee women to take platforms to speak directly about their experiences.
SMART START
SmartStart is a social franchise with a bold ambition to ensure every young child in South Africa has access to a quality early learning programme in preparation for the opportunities ahead. SmartStart was established in 2015 to close the access gap to early learning opportunities. These remain out of reach for the majority of children, especially those in underserved communities From the outset, SmartStart and its partners knew that an entirely new solution was needed. One that could be delivered at speed and scale at grassroots level and integrate every aspect of the early learning value chain. By harnessing the power of partnership, community, and collaboration, SmartStart provides a unique National Delivery Platform that addresses the lack of affordable, quality early learning programmes, the shortage of pre-schools and the dire need for trained and licensed practitioners, while creating new employment opportunities.
HOPE NOT HATE
HOPE not hate’s work focuses on the organised far right, the communities who are susceptible to them and the issues and policies which give rise to them. They build skills and resilience across communities and civil society organisations, creating an alternative narrative of togetherness and unity. They leverage the power of HOPE by creating a platform for ordinary people to do the extraordinary. That includes supporting the wider sector to have greater impact in opposing hatred in all its forms through more effective collaboration and sharing of skills, promoting social cohesion and defending Britain’s multicultural and multiracial society. Through their work, they defend, champion and promote democracy and the rule of law; speaking out against anti-democratic and authoritarian forces and policies.
SABRINA LOVE FOUNDATION
The Sabrina Love Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 2004 to provide services to disabled children in the community within the Greater Plettenberg Bay area of the Western Cape. The Day Care and Therapy Centre NPO was established in 2006 to care for children with moderate to severe disabilities who cannot attend mainstream schools. They aim to transform the lives of all children with disabilities by providing holistic care, world-class therapy and inclusive educational opportunities ensuring their optimal physical, cognitive and socio-emotional development. They recognise that families and communities are integral in the inclusion of children with disabilities so we focus on raising awareness, advocacy, training and the empowerment of these roleplayers.
