If you were to ask me before a cold beer what
"I was shot in Joburg" is, I would
say:
It is a brand providing a platform for street
children,
who've received photography training through the Studio_Bernard Viljoen Foundation
[NGO],
to apply their newly developed skills and generate an income...
If you were to ask me over a cold beer what "I was shot in Joburg" is, I would
say:
A chain of events led me to initiate a community
project, in the form of a photography
course, with a group of boys form TWILIGHT CHILDREN, a shelter
for street children in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
Together, we documented their immediate environment and the result was an amazing
exhibition
at the end of 2009 at "Arts on Main" in down town Johannesburg. It was called
"Joburg
on Monday afternoons – through the eyes of 15 street kids".
I grew so fond of the children, that I decided to implemented a second
project for them to apply their newly developed skills and genereate an income.
And so, "I was shot in joburg" was born. We take portraits of people, on the
streets of Joburg, who
can then buy it online to wear on the streets of the world.
If you were to ask me after a cold beer what
"I was shot in Joburg" is, I would
say:
It is a brand that is going international within the next 3 years.
It gives self worth to kids who used to live on the streets of joburg –
hopefully, one day, they will not have to beg or ask for bread, they
will be able to buy their own cake... and i’m sure they will share...
'Nuff said. Enjoy your photo.
Bernard
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