Olympus refugee photo camp Uganda

Press Release:
Through the Eyes of Children – Life as a Refugee in Uganda will run for three weeks in London’s South Bank at the.gallery@oxo from 14th June to 1st July 2007.

In November 2006 Olympus supported the International Medical Corps UK and National Geographic, in a series of workshops set up in a refugee settlement in south-western Uganda.  The IMC UK are a global humanitarian organisation who actively dedicates their time to saving and rebuilding lives through healthcare, training and community development. Through the use of photo/art therapy projects, young children were encouraged to learn new skills of photography from a team of renowned National Geographic photographers. Using the Olympus E System, the young refugees aged between 12 and 20, were able to communicate the harsh reality of their displaced lives. The result of these workshops is a powerful visual exhibition.

“We are delighted to sponsor this event” says Mark Thackara, General Manager for Marketing at Olympus UK. “The exhibition sets out to highlight the amazing resilience and creativity of children and reinforces how photography can inspire and change the lives of those who have never even used a camera before”. The exhibition will coincide with the UK’s Refugee Week (18th – 24th June) and International Refugee Day, the Celebrating Sanctuary Weekend (16th – 17th June) and the Coin Street Festival that will run along the South Bank throughout June and July.