• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

WE FIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD

  • Latest news
  • Contact us
  • My new icon
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Chance for Childhood HomepageChance for Childhood

We fight for every child

  • About us
    • Our Team
      • Our Staff
      • Our Trustees
      • Our Patrons And Ambassadors
      • Technical Advisors
    • Our Finances
    • Our History
    • Current Jobs
  • Our Work
    • Our Impact
    • East Africa
    • West Africa
    • #OverExposed
  • Get Involved
    • Corporate Partners
    • Funding Partners & Grant Makers
    • London Marathon
    • Give In Your Will
      • Donate In Memory
  • Donate
LATEST NEWS

“REAL CHANGE ONLY COMES IF INGO OR INTERNATIONAL DONORS DON’T ASK FOR THE PHOTOS”

8 September 2022

OverExposed was inspired by our newest partner, Glad’s House Kenya who work with the children and young people living on the streets of Mombasa, Kenya. When we started working with them, they were clear that they would not share images of children’s faces with us. This triggered the conversations we had here at Chance for Childhood that led to the creation of the campaign.

Here the founder of Glad’s House Kenya, Bokey Achola, shares his reflections on the challenges of using images of children in vulnerable situations and the impact he has seen since implementing this change in 2017.

“For a long time, children in Mombasa didn’t feel happy about people taking their photos, they felt that people were making money from them. For example, people will take photos of a child who is hungry and campaign to get funds to feed the children. But that child doesn’t get to see that food. It’s frustrating for them when life is so hard.”

“The world is smaller now,” Bokey reflected. “You can easily lose control of the image you share, and it can be used somewhere else. If the image is misused, the child will know where that photo came from so it brings hostility toward the adults that should be keeping them safe. You might take a picture of a child when they are 9 years old, but what happens when they see it when they are 16? That image will haunt them forever. Children will be defined for the rest of their lives by a moment in time. For example, some children turn to substance misuse to cope with the trauma they are experiencing. Taking a picture of them with a glue bottle is not who they are, it is a tiny piece of their situation.”

“Photos of children should show their strength, joy and determination, not their vulnerability”

When asked about the changes he has seen since deciding not to show faces of children and young people in photos, Bokey told us:

“We now have a lot of conversations with the children, informing them about the importance of knowing who is taking their photos, where the photo is being used, who will be the end beneficiary and how will they benefit from the photo being taken. This has really impacted them and these days they don’t allow people to take their photos. I remember there was a workshop we were delivering, and we told the children we wouldn’t take photos. Someone started taking a video and one young person stopped the workshop and said, ‘no, we had an agreement that no photos would be taken, why are you going back on that?’ It really showed us the impact and importance of ensuring children know their rights when it comes to using their images and stories. It is also now much easier for street workers to do their job.

By not taking photos, it allows children to build trust and confidence in the street workers and they know that they are on their side. Because of these changes, children’s confidence in us has risen, they know that we have their best intentions at heart.”

When talking to Bokey about the challenges of removing images he reflected, “Most donors want to see children at the exact situation they are in. They have never encountered children in street situations so they want to see those children in that space, so they can tell their stories. It is an advantage to them but not an advantage to the children.

“We have led a big campaign in Mombasa with other organisations about how they use photos, but they always reach difficulties. They will always say, ‘how will our donors know what we are doing?’ So, people are still glued to using pictures of children in poverty, but we are making strides by empowering the children, who are the victims of these images, to say no or ask questions. The other day, someone was watching one of our Street Soccer sessions held in a public space and he was taking photos. All the children went over to him and made him delete the photos; they could do that because they knew their rights.”

Whilst he sees some change, Bokey told us, “Real change only comes if INGO or international donors don’t ask for the photos, funders should understand that depicting a child in a vulnerable situation is not good for the life of the child.”

Finally, we asked Bokey, how it felt being the grassroots organisation that had inspired this, he told us; “It brings me joy. But the biggest joy is that this is a win for children. It is a win for all the children who have been mistreated in the way their images have been used until now.”

From all of us at Chance for Childhood and in the sector – Bokey, thank you for the inspiration!

Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare on Email
We fight for every child Donate now

Footer

Get our emails

Stay connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Get in touch

01483 230 250


Safeguarding

If you have concerns about a Safeguarding or Child Protection issue, or would like to speak to us about a concern please contact:

Useful links

Our promise to you

Global safeguarding policy

Terms & conditions

Privacy and cookies policy

Complaints policy

Jobs

Gift Shop

Fundraising Regulator logo

Registered address: 3 Fairfields, 26 Green Lane, Cobham, KT11 2NN.
Correspondence address: Chance for Childhood, PO Box 3030, Romford, RM7 1US.
Charity registered in England & Wales no. 1013587. © 2021 Chance for Childhood

We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device. Privacy & Cookies policy ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT