adminLeroy Dzenga : Arts Reporter
Teenage girls who escaped child marriages were in tears on Friday as the United Nations Population Fund kicked off a photographic exhibition chronicling their tribulations and triumphs at a gallery in the capital. The exhibition running under the theme “Investing in Teenage Girls” was officially opened last Friday as as members of the public and the civil society held the World Population Day Commemorations.Local photographers, Nikitha Letho and Erick Gauss shot the images in Hurungwe, Makonde, Richmond, Westrange and Mbire.
Moreblessing Musvondo (18) who appears in some of the images was emotional, but also elated when she saw her face on the framed portraits.
“I feel very happy that my face is being used to tell a story that had a happy ending.
“I hope young girls who come across them will feel inspired and know that it is possible to overcome challenges no matter how impossible they may seem on the onsent”, said Musvondo.
UNFPA Communications officer, Victoria Walshe praised the two photographers for capturing the subject`s emotions astutely.
She also went on to applaud the girls who appear on the images for their bravery and willpower to change their narrative.
“The idea behind the shoot was to give the girls a voice and to try and communicate with the public in an engaging way.
“We need to tell the world these stories in a way they can easily comprehend as this is visual evidence of their plight.
“When the girls saw the images they were overwhelmed, some even cried. This is our way of giving back to them for opening up to us and allowing us to assist them.
“The photographers did a sterling job as well”, Walshe said.
The UNFPA has been embarking on a project called the Sista2Sista intervention where a group of community worker s engage with community members in a bid to eradicate child marriages and abuse.
The subjects in the exhibition are beneficiaries of the project.
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