The American photographer Irving Penn once said that a good photograph touches the heart and, once seen, leaves the viewer a changed person. “It is, in a word, effective” he concluded. Last month ActionAid put these words in motion, capturing on film the stories of marginalised Bangladeshi girls at risk of violence and abuse.
The non-profit, humanitarian charity sent disposable cameras on a journey of 4,965 miles to five of their ‘Happy Homes’ shelters in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. When they arrived, five girls were asked to document a typical day in their lives there. The aim was simple: to shine a light on child exploitation and gender violence across the country and in so doing, maybe – just maybe – effect change.
Amid the dancing, drawing, singing and laughter, all seemingly 'everyday' activities, there is a unique story. 14-year-old Jhorna, 12-year-old Shathi, 12-year-old Tania, 15-year-old Shima and 17-year-old Fatema are just a few of the lucky ones. They now have a safe roof over their heads and school to attend. In Dhaka alone, an astonishing two million children live in street slums, many of whom are girls at risk of sexual abuse, violence, forced labour and trafficking. This is why ActionAid’s locally recruited staff scour the city: they’re determined to get as many vulnerable women and girls as possible off the street and into a safe space where they can flourish.
Violence against women isn’t confined to the Bangladeshi capital – it’s a national epidemic that shows no signs of dissipating as we approach 2017. Patriarchal norms and systems make it difficult for women to develop and ActionAid is acutely aware of the barriers they face in trying to protect them from danger. Cases of violence against women abound, and incidents of rape, acid attacks and child trafficking are depressingly common. UNICEF estimates that approximately 400 women and children fall victim to trafficking each month in Bangladesh; according to a United Nations study with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, more than 10 million Bangladeshi women experience physical or sexual violence every year. Most shockingly, more than 40% of women have had their first experience of forced sex by the age of 14.
In light of such appalling statistics, ActionAid is keen to underline the importance of ‘safety’ and ‘happiness’. All five shelters – in the Dhaka districts of Lalbagh, Mohammadpur, Mugdapara, Karwan Bazar and Sutrapur – provide day care, including meals, counselling and education. Girls who are at greater risk become permanent residents, and once they’ve settled in every child is enrolled in a mainstream school. Vocational skill sessions are also offered, providing young women with an exit strategy – a career – once they leave. Over 17,000 girls have accessed these drop-in facilities to date.
Why choose photography as a medium to explore safe shelter, I ask? “We wanted to show a very real picture of what life might look like for a girl staying at the home,” ActionAid’s Claire Wilkinson explains. “By giving the girls the cameras, we hoped to gauge a typical day through their eyes; from the moment they woke up, to the moment they went to bed. The girls were then able to tell their own story, as opposed to a camera looking in.”
These five disposable cameras don’t just capture the mundane day-to-day – they dig much deeper. Each photograph shows us what can be achieved under a safe roof, portraying the daily routines that are currently denied to so many girls on the streets of Bangladesh’s megacity.
Introducing: Jhorna, Shathi, Tania, Shima and Fatema. These are their stories…
The photos were taken as part of ActionAid's 'Safe from Harm' Christmas appeal.
This Christmas, the charity is calling on the UK public to sponsor a girl to keep her safe from harm. Child sponsorship money helps support the child, and their whole community. It funds projects like Happy Homes, keeping the most vulnerable girls off the street and safe from harm.
https://www.actionaid.org.uk/safe-from-harm
It’s 9 am and at ActionAid’s Happy Home in Karwan Bazar, 12-year-old Shathi Akhter is colouring in and drawing pictures with her friends.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Fast-forward to 10.20 pm. You know what? Drawing is exhausting.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Recreational activities are just as important as schooling. In Karwan Bazar, it’s time for a mid-morning game of badminton out in the quad.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Once they’re settled in, every child is enrolled in a mainstream school. 15-year-old Shima shows us just how enthusiastic the students in Lalbagh are. The books are out and everyone’s preparing for today’s lessons.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
In Mohammadpur, 14-year-old Jhorna Akhter snaps away as her friends gather round to sing songs to each other. As Claire Wilkinson, Senior PR at ActionAid UK says: “The images clearly show a life of safety and happiness.”
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
12-year-old Tania snaps her fellow residents putting on their school uniforms at ActionAid’s Sutrapur home. So far, 1,021 girls have accessed shelter and education via ActionAid’s Happy Homes.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
We’re back at the Mohammadpur home. “The girls chose to take photos of their daily routine” says ActionAid’s Claire Wilkinson. “From brushing teeth to eating, and the varied activities they’re involved in; dancing, drawing, singing and all-important gossiping with friends.”
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Which neatly brings us onto every child’s favourite pastime, regardless of geographical location: dental hygiene.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Playing and making friends is just as vital for these girls’ development as any other activity – as this snapshot from Mohammadpur joyfully illustrates.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
It’s slumber time in Karwan Bazar and the girls are preparing for bed at 7 pm. “Many of the girls living at the Happy Homes have come from a life on the streets,” says Claire Wilkinson.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Eyebrow threading is just as popular in Mohammadpur as it is on the high street over here, as this photograph testifies. Here’s Jhorna working her magic in the beauty parlour.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Anyone for a game of Ludo?
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
In Mugdapara, 17-year-old Fatema 'freshens up' in the morning.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
7.30 am in Karwan Bazar. It’s never too early for a quick game of Blind Man’s Bluff…
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
In Mohammadpur, Jhorna channels her inner Mary Berry and makes a cake after a long day at school.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Computer skills are a big draw at Mohammadpur’s Happy Home. Since being established, ActionAid’s project has recorded that 735 girls have accessed vocational training and 396 girls have found employment.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
The girls in Mohammadpur strike a pose as they enjoy a spot of dancing after school.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
In Sutrapur, Sharmin and her friend enjoy some time outside to play at school.
Photo: Courtesy of Action Aid.
Ferdousi gets stuck into some sewing before school. As an exit mechanism, ActionAid also offers vocational skill development sessions so the girls can choose a potential career later on.
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