Settlement women display works of photography

A GROUP of women from settlements in Port Moresby were given the opportunity to showcase their photography collection at Parliament House three weeks ago in honour of visiting United States secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The exhibition was part of the “Powerful Voices” photography project funded by Family Health International – The Science of Improving Lives and AusAID – and was co-sponsored by USAID, regional development mission Asia and ExxonMobil.
“Powerful Voices” is a women’s project aimed at building advocacy through photography by giving them the opportunity to reflect, analyse, speak up, articulate and take action.
It has been designed to empower women, whose lives are constrained by discrimination, violence, and the threat of HIV/AIDS.
The project uses digital cameras that women use to take photographs, discuss, analyse, speak out and commit what actions they need to take to create change.
Last August, 15 women from Paga Hill and ATS used their cameras over a six-week period to look through “new eyes” at their lives and their communities. 
The women photographers were invited to speak about their work to a panel of judges from Transparency International PNG and UNDP last September.
The panel was deeply moved by the stories of the women from ATS and Paga Hill.
Since August, their photographs had been exhibited at the Hideaway Hotel, the Moresby Arts Theatre, the United States Embassy, and, most recently, at Parliament House.