Through the people’s lens

UK think-tank the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is teaming up with award-winning UK charity PhotoVoice for an exhibition at Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), London, which will exhibit photos and digital stories by community members in China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nepal, Peru and Tunisia to portray the impact of development as they see and experience it. Crucially, the images aim to give those at the grassroots of development an active voice in telling their own stories of what’s working and why.

The free exhibition will take place at Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) from 16 to 26 February between 10am and 5pm on weekdays and 10am and 4pm on Saturday.

On Thursday 26 February, we will be hosting a special event at the Royal Geographical Society, including a key note talk by Binyavanga Wainaina, author of ‘One Day I Will Write About This Place’ and founding editor of Kwani, a literary network promoting and publishing contemporary African writing.

Joined by Mr Wainaina will be Nick Danziger, PhotoVoice Patron and winner of the World Press Photo award; and a panel including Mariéme Jamme, a social entrepreneur ranked in Forbes top powerful young African women, and Juliana Ruhfus, a senior reporter at Al Jazeera. Other panelists will be announced in the coming weeks.

The event will explore shifting narratives and images of development progress. With unprecedented access to technology, those at the grassroots can now tell their own stories direct to a world stage. How does this challenge perceptions of development? And what does this mean for the traditional story-tellers – journalists, photographers, film-makers and charities?

After the talks, there will be complimentary drinks and the opportunity to explore the exhibition.

Doors open at 6pm, with the keynote from 7pm. All welcome.
Admission is free but RSVP essential