Here to Help Photograph Project
A picture is worth a thousand words. This is especially true when the pictures come from families in our Here to Help program - a group intervention program for women and children who have experienced domestic violence that serves 45 women and 75-90 children each year in English and Spanish.
In a collaboration between CDI and the University of Toronto, five families were asked to take pictures depicting their successful transition from family violence and were given digital cameras, personal digital memory cards for each family member to ensure privacy and instruction in photography.
They were given eight weeks to create their photo project. And the results were nothing less than moving and inspirational.
Not only do the images speak to the emotional themes that arose such as faith in God, support, journeying from darkness to light, love, safety and freedom, but also recognition of the issue of violence against women on a larger societal level and the hope for change.
The project was described by the families as a positive opportunity for growth, healing, strengthening self-esteem and personal confidence and developing their creative sides. It also built on one of the main benefits of the Here to Help program - helping mothers increase communication with their child about the violence they were exposed to and their children’s feelings related to it.