FairMail

FairMail Exposition

After just 2 months of photography training the new teenagers of FairMail Morocco organized their first ever photography exhibition in Essaouira. With the theme of the exhibition being “My Essaouira” we asked the teenagers to take pictures of what was the most important thing in their daily lives in Essaouira. This way giving the visitors a unique inside view into the lives of the teenagers and what is important for them.

The teenagers presenting themselves

Chaima for example took great pictures of the fishing port where her father and brother earn the family income by buying and selling sardines. The port also plays an important role for Monim as he cleans the fishing boats before they are painted and gives the money to his mother as his father had a deadly accident several years ago. Other teenagers like Ibtissam, Hajiba and Badre choose to document the important work that their associations do to help teenagers like them to stay in school, have decent food to eat, clothes to wear and lead a tranquil life. The most popular pictures where the ones taken of the cats living in the port and in the ancient medina, taken by Joued and Fatimezahra respectively.

Abdallah showing his pictures

In total the teenagers sold 72 pictures to the visitors. As during the exhibition 100% of the earnings went directly into the teenager’s private education fund they earned 10.000 dirham (about 900 euro) to invest in their futures.

The highlight for the teenagers was presenting themselves to the 100 people who attended the opening night and speaking in public for the first time. Which we think they did great, leaving the visitors very impressed. Equally impressive for the teenagers was when the national television station 2M showed up to interview four of the teenagers when making an item about FairMail’s pilot project in Morocco.

Monim being interviewed for the national television

An online display of the exhibition pictures can be found here.

On-line viewing of the Moroccan TVcan be found here. The item about FairMail starts after 23 minutes and 45 seconds.

The FairMail Morocco Teenagers

– In ENGLISH BELOW –

Fondée en 2006, FairMail est une entreprise de commerce équitable qui produit des carte de vœux, réalisées en Inde et au Pérou, par des adolescents en situation de pauvreté.  La mission de FairMail est d’offrir un meilleur avenir à l’ensemble de ces adolescents, qu’ils construisent eux même en développant : leur créativité (au travers de la photographie) et leur confiance en eux (grâce à cette expérience professionnelle, leurs nouvelles compétences et en créant leur propre produit). Ils choisissent ainsi leur futur en toute conscience. Avec l’argent qu’ils gagnent au sein de FairMail, ils financent leur éducation qui leur permettra de réaliser leur rêve.  

En 2012, FairMail a décidé d’introduire son programme dans un troisième pays : le Maroc. Après trois semaines de voyage prospectif en février, la décision a été prise de s’installer à Essaouira. Un projet pilote a ainsi commencé en travaillant avec les adolescents défavorisés des associations Bayti, Au Cœur de l’Amitié et Dar At Talib. Les adolescents suivent deux leçons par semaine, avec en option une leçon privée additionnelle. Le démarrage de FairMail Maroc a été très dynamique, avec des adolescents qui sont déjà en train de produire des photos dans un délai très court !

Le 24 novembre se tiendra l’exposition “Mon Essaouira” montrant Essaouira à travers le regard des adolescents et ainsi, une perspective unique de la ville. Vous êtes invités à venir découvrir leur travail et à rencontrer les 9 jeunes artistes à la soirée d’ouverture le 24 novembre 2012.

L’exposition se déroulera du 26 novembre au 01 décembre 2012. Si vous n’avez pas la possibilité d’être présent lors de la soirée d’ouverture, les adolescents vous proposent de venir voir leur travail pendant cette semaine.

Toutes les photos des adolescents sont en vente. 100% de l’argent récolté va directement à l’adolescent(e) qui a pris la photo, pour financer son éducation.

 ‘MON ESSAOUIRA’

 à

Dar Souiri

2 Avenue du Caire, Essaouira

Soirée d’ouverture  – samedi 24 novembre de 19h à 21h

Exposition du  lundi 26 novembre au samedi 01 décembre de 9h-12h, 15h-19h

– IN ENGLISH –

FairMail, founded in 2006, is a company producing fair trade greeting cards with photos made in Peru and India by local underprivileged teenagers. FairMail’s mission is to offer opportunities for a better future to the teenagers, which they THEMSELVES create; by developing their creativity (through photography) and their self-esteem (through job experience, new skills and having their own product) so that they can choose their future paths more consciously.  With the money they earn in FairMail they can finance the education they need to realize these futures.

In 2012 FairMail decided to introduce the program to a third country, Morocco, and after a 3 week orientation trip in February, it was decided to open its doors in Essaouira and begin a pilot project working with underprivileged teenagers from Bayti, Au Couer de l’Amitie and Dar At Talib.  The teenagers have two group lessons and the option of a further private lesson per week. It has been an exciting start to FairMail Morocco with the teenagers already producing great photographs in such a short time.

On the 24^th November we are hosting ‘My Essaouira’, an exhibition of the teenagers’ photographs showing Essaouira through their eyes, giving a unique perspective to their city. You are invited to watch their work and meet the young artists themselves on their Opening Night on the 24^th November 2012.  

The exhibition runs from 26^th November to 1^st December 2012, so if you are unable to make the Opening Night do visit another time, the teenagers would love you to see their work.

All the teenagers pictures are for sale. 100% of money goes directly to the teenager who took the picture for him or her to spend on their own education.

‘MY ESSAOUIRA’

at

Dar Souiri

2 Avenue du Caire, Essaouira

Opening Night  – Saturday 24^th November 2012, 7pm – 9pm

Exhibition runs Monday 26^th  November – Saturday 1^st December 2012

9 am – 12 pm, 3pm – 7pm

How to find Dar Souiri?