Kathmandu:

The photographs on exhibit at the Indigo Gallery are more than mere photographs: they are vivid visions and lifelike stories of girls who have faced abuse, betrayal, abduction and slavery in brothels.

All the photographs on display are part of a unique and creative project close to the heart of all those involved in it. The whole project supported by Terres de Hommes (TDH) Foundation is a ‘healing journey of psychological transformation’ of the 126 girls and women who have participated in the project.

With the theme ‘Another me’, Achinto Bhadra, a documentary photographer has portrayed these survivors of trafficking, rape and abandonment in their own imaginative characters. All the girls featured in the photographs are being sheltered at the Sanlaap, a non-governmental organisation based in Kolkata. The photography sessions took place at the Sanlaap’s Sneha Girls Shelter with just two-three girls being photographed in a day.

Photography was just a part of the project. Harleen Walia, who is a counsellor, trainer and specialist in child protection, did a long process of counselling. According to Indrani Sinha,

executive Director of Sanlaap, everybody involved in the project wanted to “tell the world about the pain that these girls were going through”.

She said, “We wanted to involve a counsellor in the healing process as we were very concerned that they do not get hurt again.”

There were many things to be taken into consideration. They wanted the girls to express themselves about what they wanted to be, but were wary that the girls might be reluctant to show their faces.

Bhadra said, “We had to find ways to present an image of what they wanted to be by not revealing who they actually are.”

For TDH, which was looking for material for a campaign on contemporary slavery, this was the perfect idea. As the girls started pouring their heart out to the counsellor, everybody got emotionally attached to the project.

Sinha said, “The girls were given the time and choice to speak about their experiences. Even the counsellor wanted to write stories and not case reports as such powerful words and emotions emerged from the girls.”

According to Sinha, all the girls involved found out a creative way to vent out the anger, pain and frustrations through this project. They held an exhibition at the shelter and gave two copies of their photographs to the girls.

When asked about the girls’ reactions Sinha said, “They were so happy and kept on saying ‘I look so nice’. They felt powerful while talking about themselves.”

She added with a proud smile, “They were so perturbed that I would not recognise them. So they showed me their photographs during the exhibition to let me know.”

Speaking at the inauguration that was held on March 16, John Frederick, consultant for TDH said, “The innate compassion present at the shelter made the project happen.”

With tears in her eyes Sinha said, “I see these girls broken, hurt and in pain everyday, but they are still able to speak their minds. I am so proud of them.”

The exhibition-cum-sale will go on till March 26.