Living proof that love exists

Our exhibition, Following the home, opens Sunday (tomorrow) at New Horizon centre, 59 Kedem St, Jaffa. On show is the work of six girls from the Jaffa Photography Project - Jamilah, Sama, Jiana, Mor, Walaa and Rimi  - photography developed over a series of workshops exploring 'home', 'community' and 'the other'. Please come, and bring your friends, to see this moving, exciting work - image and text from girls in Jaffa, who have not been heard before.

Here is some of the work on show:

Friday night  (Sama Shakra)

'On Friday night everyone in the family comes to my house to relax and eat. In this picture you see my mum, my older brother Ibrahim and his wife Wardeh, which means ‘rose’, and their daughter Aida, named after my mother.

'On the left is my aunt Nawal and her husband Ahmed. Nawal is a healer through the Qur'an. A lot of people from Jaffa come to her and ask her to read for them. If you have stomach ache, feel anxious or suffer from the evil eye. When you hear her read from the Qur'an you feel really good. She feels what you feel. Once she read to me – and knew everything I felt. I was hot and she became red.

'I love it when Nawal comes to my home. You feel as if an angel came through the door. I have never seen a woman with so much strength apart from my mother. Nawal and Ahmed are living proof that love exists and lasts for years.'

My father  (Jiana Ashkar)

'This is a happy picture. It is important to my father that the family should be happy and smile. He says, 'if you smile the world smiles back at you, if you don't smile, the world steps away'. I agree.'

Washing  (Rimi Garbua)

‘This is beautiful because you can see here washing and it reminds me of home and family. You see colours and the blue sky but next to that you see the barbed wire that is closed and is trying to save the children and the family from the bad environment. It’s a shield for them and it stops people coming in, but it’s bad that we need such a shield.’

Amir by the window (Rimi Garbua)

‘In this picture we don’t see my brother’s face because of the light, which is behind him. It’s black and white but beyond that you see colours, and after that you see Jaffa. The child is kept safely in his warm house but beyond him, open the door and you see all the garbage, cigarettes, drugs and poor families.

‘Black is normally bad. Maybe this house is a place where the child is locked and must stay inside. Maybe the home is not a good place for him.’

Your way  (Mor Levy)

‘This woman is a survivor because she did it her way - she made her choices. You can see in her eyes that she's a happy person - she is not wearing a mask. She told us that she could see the future. One day she woke up and a voice in her head told her not to drive. She ignored it and then had an accident. After that she decided not to ignore the voice inside - and to help other people do the same.’

Lina sleeping  (Jamilah Siksik)

‘I love this picture because Lina looks like an angel when she's asleep. I took this picture because she is beautiful and you can see the intimacy of home and she is calm. But outside there is a whole war - many problems, chaos. When I look at this picture I feel I can resolve all the problems outside.’

Following the home is open for one month, from May 4

To support our work, click on the 'donate' button, right.

Comments

[Jacqueline Crooks]

The young people's photographs are powerful, I was moved by every single one of of them. Rimi's photographs and stories in particular resonated because of my own experiences as a mixed race woman and because I did not have a relationship with my own father. I loved the picture of Rimi being held by her father, he so clearly adores her. I loved Rimi's photo of the beach, it captures all the peace and beauty of the coast and how important it is for us to find our own special place. Keep up the wonderful work. Leila, you are doing an amazing job out there, your energy is amazing. Jacqueline xxx

[Leila]

Thank you, Jacqui. Rimi's going to be pleased to know that - I will tell her tomorrow at the opening.

It was great working with you in London, I learned so much there that helps me here. xxx

[Jonathan Kirsch]

Thanks for sharing these beautiful and evocative photographs. I am glad to learn about your interesting and important work. All best, Jonathan Kirsch

[Joseph Mutti]

The photos and testimonials are absolutely fantastic, Leila. I'm serious - they're really really good. I'm reading with a mixture of sadness and admiration. The clothes drying through the barbed wire couldn't have been more symbolic. It's very emotional - especially Rimi's story. I would love to do a radio piece on this for Free Speech Radio News. J.

[Elad Sasson]

WOW Leila! That's great. I have a guest coming from France next week and I planned on taking him to Jaffa, so the exhibition can be a real treat.

[Amy Jack]

Well, instead of doing my work, I read your blog, suspecting that it would be more important. I was right.

Thank you for connecting me to other issues outside my own little world. The excerpts are very moving. I am glad that you are helping spread their news, and it is inspiring reading the blogs and seeing the pictures.

I would like to help in some way. However, I must admit I do feel a bit helpless. What can I do in the midst of my daily chores, kid raising and mortgage paying? Is there something fairly minimal that I can do, but that would be helpful? I am sorry to sound so unhelpful in the way I ask the question. I am being honest about how much time I am able to give. Perhaps I could make a donation - it wouldn't be much, but every bit helps proabably.

You are really helping the world. It's wonderful, and I am proud of you (if I may say so....even though it may sound inappropriate and cheeky). I love you and your inspiring energy.

lots of love from Amy.

[Leila]

Thanks for the comments and support - Joseph, it would be great to do a radio piece, let's talk about this online soon.

Amy, to be in touch after all this time across our worlds means the world to me. A small donation would be great for us - I'm trying to set up an online paypal thing, so that anyone who wants to can donate easily. I think what you're doing, bringing up kids in a loving family, is just as important as any work anyone could do anywhere.

Love
L

[Owen Green]

Good luck with the exhibition. GREAT WORK!!!!!

[Alan McCormick]

Hi Leila
what a wonderful, inspiring project. I was really taken away (from England and petty worries) and moved. Jiana's dad and the barbed wire cast washing really had an impact. Rimi's story and pictures really affected me- like good poetry, but much more real.

Thanks for an insight into things going on in Jaffa

Alan x

[Ewa Jaremkiewicz]

Leila,

It’s beautiful, beautiful. It’s really moved me.

Speak soon and much love,

x
Ewa

[becka]

great photos! i love how the photographers offer a kind of narrative to their work, which seems to allow both them and the viewer further insight into the subject of the picture. i notice also that the way they speak about their pictures seems richer and fuller than for the january exhibit--they are finding their voices. they should be proud of this work, as should you.

lots of love! b

[Kazzy]

so moving lee lee. i like the story of the jewish mother/arab father and the original photos fascinating. such old arguments between the jews and arabs. xox

[Sami Buchari]

Great exhibition, starting and finishing in the heart.

Bravo Leila

Sami

[tamar]

Hello Leila!

lots of love, very proud of you and your amazing projects,

xx

tamar

[Anna Gordon]

Wow! This is inspiring and moving. I find these new pictures really really good. They are subtle, warm, humane, direct. I like all the pictures, particularly the washing and the wire and I find them ALL moving. The sleeping girl brought tears to my eyes. Its a good subject-exploring home- and the girls of Jaffa have done something professional, original and artistic. I like the juxtaposition of inside and outside, the sense of half- hidden lives, seemingly ordinary yet full of human dignity. This is what touches my heart. I am truly impressed. Congratulations! The freshness of all this work is inspiring and makes me want to take photographs.

Id love to meet the intuitive healing aunt who reads from the Koran. Would she meet me?

Perhaps I could write about this art/photography work for essence of life magazine?

[M]

You're amazing - it must be so rewarding doing wonderful work like this. I love the photograph of Rimi receiving a flower from Yael. I am very happy to give a donation.

Many kisses

M

[Jacob Sam-La Rose]

Congrats - powerful and valuable things you're facilitating.
Best wishes,
Jacob

[Pippa]

These pictures have filled me with joy. They are so full of hope. I love the smiles on the gilrs' faces. Well done to you and to all the girls. I am now going to try to forward them to some friends in Canada who I know would admire them

Love Pippa

[Kyna]

there is some wonderful stuff, i cant wait to hear more. when are you coming back? are we going to sketch?

looking forward to it!

xx

[Leila]

Thanks everyone for your comments and support - we're all really encouraged to know how much this work means to other people. I will make sure that the girls see all of your feedback as well.

L

[James P]

I love the pictures and would like to find out more about your project. Maybe I can help in some way.......... As everyone else says: well done!

[James P]

I love the pictures and would like to find out more about your project. Maybe I can help in some way.......... As everyone else says: well done!