Always needing to fundraise for chemicals and equipment to sustain the program, Serbest runs the operation on a shoestring. At the VII Academy we support his endeavors to train the next generation of young photographers, skilled at telling the tales of those around them and bringing to light the reality of lives interrupted and displaced by conflict. Serbest writes, “Photography as a pedagogic method, enables children to first of all know themselves better. It is an incredible and effective method of teaching children coming from difficult conditions, new ways of thinking, creativity and being playful while expanding their perspective of their surroundings.”
Image courtesy Sirkhane Darkroom.
During one of the workshops, a child who attended workshop for the first time had a revelation. As he put a photo paper into a chemical tub, photograph started showing up and he started saying ‘Bismillah’ because he thought it was magic.
Since the project began in 2017, over 350 children–Turkish, Kurdish, Arab, Syrian, Iraqi–have attended workshops. Currently there are 17 girls and 14 boys participating. Girls typically are not allowed to freely come and go out of the house, but after parents see the results of the workshop and how talented the students are, they support their daughters attending. The children become the “family photographers,” taking photographs of their parents or siblings whenever someone needs a portrait for official documentation.
Student Work
All images below were taken by participants of Sirkhane Darkroom.
Photo by Nevafhe, a 12 year old boy from Qamislo Syria. (Photograph of his brother)
Photo by Ibrahim, a 12 year old from Alhasaka, Syria. (Life in village)
Photo by Ayse, a 9 year old from Mardin, Turkey. (Portrait of her friend)
Photo by Hala, a 13 year old from Aleepo, Syria. (Photograph of her shadow)
Photo by Ibrahim, a 13 year old from Alhasaka, Syria. (Photograph of a toy car, made during a photoshoot with his brothers)
Photo by Aya, a 10 years old girl from Derbasiye. (Photo of her father inside their house)
Photo by Welid, a 12 year old boy from Alasaka, Syria. (Photograph of his friend playing outside)
Photo by Ceylan, a 14 year girl old from Qamishlo, Syria. (Photograph of her friend posing next to a snowman)
Photo by Reshit, he is a 10 year old boy from Kobani, Syria. (Photograph of his sisters getting ready to go attend a wedding)
Photo by Nevaf, a 12 year old boy from Qamislo, Syria. (Photograph of his brother)
Photo by Melik, a 11 year old boy from Mardin, Turkey. (Photograph of life in Israsyon)
Photo by Nazli, a 14 year old girl from Mardin, Turkey. (Photograph of a life inside of her home)
Photo by Nevaf, a 12 year old boy from Qamislo, Syria. (Photograph of his brother)
Photo by Halil, a 12 year old boy from Alhasaka, Syria. (Photograph of his brother)
Photo by Ceylan, a 14 year old girl from Qamishlo, Syria. (Playing in snow outside)
Photo by Aya, a 10 year old girl from Derbasiye. (Photo of her father inside their house)
Photo by Refai, a 12 year old boy from Derbasiye, Syria. (Photograph of his friend Istasyin)
Photo by Nevaf, a 12 year old boy from Qamislo, Syria. (Photograph of his brother)
Photo by Muhamet, a 11 year old boy from Qamislo, Syria. (Photograph of life inside his house )
Photo by Nevaf, a 12 year old boy from Qamislo, Syria. (Photograph of his brother)
Photo by Ibrahim, a 12 year old boy from Alhasaka, Syria. (Photograph of his shadow)
Photo by Ibrahim, a 13 year old boy from Alhasaka, Syria. (Photograph of his brothers shooting with camera)
Photo Taken by Melik, a 11 year old boy from Mardin, Turkey. (Photograph of life in Israsyon)
Photo by Ceylan, a 14 years old girl from Qamishlo, Syria. (Playing with snow outside)
Photo by Walid, a 12 year old boy from Alasaka, Syria. (Photograph of his mother in kitchen)
Photo by Melik, a 11 year old boy from Mardin, Turkey. (Life in Israsyon )
Photo by Refai, a 12 year old boy from Derbasiye, Syria. (Photograph of his friends playing outside)
Photo by Muhamet, a 11 year old boy from Qamislo, Syria. (Photograph of his mother)
Photo by Rumeysa, a 11 year old girl from Mardin. (Photograph of her friends playing outside)
Photo by Halil, a 12 year old boy from Alhasaka, Syria. ( Photograph of life in the village)
Photo by Muhammet, a 10 year old boy from Derbasiye, Syria. (Photograph of his friend)
Photo by Zaynap, a 12 year old from Mardin, Turkey (Photograph of her father driving the van)
Read more about the workshop: https://www.sirkhane.org/home
Support the workshop via: https://www.mightycause.com/story/Darkroom
