Photos Taken by Cambodian Orphans to Exhibit at Christchurch Gallery

CHRISTCHURCH — An exhibition of photographs taken by children at Sunrise Children’s Village orphanages in Cambodia will open Friday, 10 April, at Art Metro, 465 Papanui Road, Papanui.

The exhibit by The Cambodian Photography Project runs 6:30pm to 9:00pm and is free and open to the public. Images will be for sale, with proceeds donated to Sunrise Children’s Villages. The photos will be on display through 30 April and can be viewed from 9:30am to 6:00pm weekdays.

The Cambodian Photography Project, created by Marisa Heller, 29, was conducted at Sunrise orphanages in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Heller and a small group of photographers donated their time and provided digital cameras to some 40 disadvantaged and orphaned children (ages 9-18). The young photographers took part in daily photography lessons, then documented their lives through photography using the skills they learned.

“The images have a unique quality with a viewpoint that can only be captured from a child’s perspective,” Heller says.

The exhibit at Art Metro will feature dozens of colourful images as well as portraits and stories about the young photographers and their home, Sunrise Children’s Villages.

Heller developed the idea for the project after she and a longtime friend toured Southeast Asia. The two women were visiting an orphanage in Siem Reap where the children used the women’s cameras to take photos. Captivated by the results, Heller created the nonprofit photography project.

Geraldine Cox, founder and president of Sunrise Children’s Villages, thought the concept fit in well with her goal of expanding opportunities and learning for children at the orphanages.

“Although I don’t usually take volunteers, there was just something about your enthusiasm that I liked,” Cox said of Heller’s proposal. “And the kids learning another skill like photography, I thought, well that’s really worthy. And when young people give up their time to come and help us, why would I say no?”

For more information, visit The Cambodian Photography Project’s Facebook page or the project’s website at www.thecambodianphotographyproject.com.

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