More than 100 children living on the pavement in Symphony Way in Delft have called upon the government to respect their rights and provide them with decent shelter.
In the past week, the children spent time with Antonio Angelucci, a freelance photographer from Italy, who taught them to photograph their own lives living with their families on the pavement.
"The idea is for the children to have fun while they document their lives," said Angelucci.
For the past eight months, 139 families have been staying on the pavement after being evicted from the N2 Gateway houses they had occupied.
On Sunday the children held their first pavement photography exhibition dubbed: A pavement exhibition, the heart of struggle.
Through pictures, letters and narratives, hung on the barbed wire fence separating them from the houses from which they were evicted, the children reflected on the trauma, pain and suffering they and their parents had endured as a result of the forced eviction.
Some of the pictures they took were of city authorities who they accused of demolishing a neighbour's shelter two weeks ago.
Other pictures and stories reflected some lighter moments the close-knit community has experienced while living on the pavement. The children said life was more difficult during the cold rainy winter season as their shelters were cold and they struggled to keep warm.
"I don't think it is fair for people to be on the road. Grannies and grandpas are getting sick on the road. Two grannies have already died, while waiting for houses and one of them is mine," wrote Lee-Andre Johnson, who is in grade one.
"Its bad for us here, we need better shelter," Johnson told the Cape Argus.
"My first day in Symphony Way was like living in a camp.
"It was hard settling down because everything was in a mess.
" People were worried and did not know where they were going to sleep," wrote Nimco Hir, 8.
Ashraf Cassiem, a spokesperson for the Anti-Eviction Campaign who attended the exhibition, said it was important for children to grow up understanding the issues that affected their lives.
- Cape Argus
In the past week, the children spent time with Antonio Angelucci, a freelance photographer from Italy, who taught them to photograph their own lives living with their families on the pavement.
"The idea is for the children to have fun while they document their lives," said Angelucci.
For the past eight months, 139 families have been staying on the pavement after being evicted from the N2 Gateway houses they had occupied.
On Sunday the children held their first pavement photography exhibition dubbed: A pavement exhibition, the heart of struggle.
Through pictures, letters and narratives, hung on the barbed wire fence separating them from the houses from which they were evicted, the children reflected on the trauma, pain and suffering they and their parents had endured as a result of the forced eviction.
Some of the pictures they took were of city authorities who they accused of demolishing a neighbour's shelter two weeks ago.
Other pictures and stories reflected some lighter moments the close-knit community has experienced while living on the pavement. The children said life was more difficult during the cold rainy winter season as their shelters were cold and they struggled to keep warm.
"I don't think it is fair for people to be on the road. Grannies and grandpas are getting sick on the road. Two grannies have already died, while waiting for houses and one of them is mine," wrote Lee-Andre Johnson, who is in grade one.
"Its bad for us here, we need better shelter," Johnson told the Cape Argus.
"My first day in Symphony Way was like living in a camp.
"It was hard settling down because everything was in a mess.
" People were worried and did not know where they were going to sleep," wrote Nimco Hir, 8.
Ashraf Cassiem, a spokesperson for the Anti-Eviction Campaign who attended the exhibition, said it was important for children to grow up understanding the issues that affected their lives.
- Cape Argus
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