In Türkiye, which hosts close to 4 million refugees with diverse nationalities, almost one in every five refugees lives with a disability. United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA Türkiye organizes a PhotoVoice Exhibition in cooperation with the Association for Solidarity with Refugees and Migrants (SGDD-ASAM) and with the support of EU Humanitarian Aid.
ANKARA, TURKIYE - In the exhibition, the photographs were taken by refugees with disabilities who are among the most vulnerable groups living in Türkiye. The artwork allows the audience to catch a glimpse of the daily lives of refugees with disabilities, and to increase awareness of the challenges they face.
Ten refugees with disabilities living in Ankara between the ages of 17-52 (7 with physical, 1 with mental, 1 with hearing and 1 with visual impairment) received both theoretical and practical photography training for 3 days. At the end of the training, they photographed their daily lives from their own perspectives. They captured their dreams, hopes and challenges in photos through the power of creative artwork.
A selection of 24 photos are presented at the exhibition together with audio descriptions in Turkish, English, Arabic and Persian languages to make it accessible for everyone. The photos are also accompanied by short descriptions by the photographers expressing their feelings about the photos.
The photo-voice exhibition can be visited at CerModern Ankara, Türkiye, from 2- 5 December 2022.
Let's witness the daily lives of refugees with disabilities from their perspective;
Abdurrahman (Iraq, 14 years old, cerebral palsy):
“This teddy bear is a gift from my father. I was 5 years old when he gave it to me, and he passed away shortly after. It was my father's last gift to me, and this photo is my gift to him.”
“These are the cars I played with as a kid. When I took this photo, I dreamed of having a car like this. I hope one day I can fulfill my dream.”
***
Amal (Iraq, 52 years old, physical disability):
“When I took this photo, I thought of the beauty of the sky and the splendor of nature.”
“The leaves have fallen from the tree. It is not the end, but the beginning of a new era. For this reason, don't ignore the fallen leaves, don't ignore them.”
***
Asma (Afghanistan, 29 years old, hearing disability):
“I've never had a comfortable life. We have always dealt with problems. To me, this photograph represents a life where a large family gathers together and lives happily. Maybe one day I will have such a happy home.”
“To me, cutlery means experience and orderly home life.”
***
Elham (Iran, 37 years old, physical disability):
“Even though it's just white and black, life flows from and within this photo. We can see that the light overcomes the darkness. Although our world is also full of darkness, the light will surely win.”
“The bulging wall, its old age, humidity and dampness represent our lives and the wounds we endure throughout it. It expresses troubles buried somewhere deep inside. As time goes by, the mould and paint make it difficult to see the true color of the wall. ”
“The rusty lock in this photo is hanging on an iron door embedded in a stone wall. It symbolizes the lives of myself and my compatriots abroad. This lock represents our view of life. If broken, it means that our perspective on life has changed, and we are getting closer to our goal.”
***
Hanan (Iraq, 33 years old, physical disability):
“To me, this photo stands for freedom, peace and security. Like this dove, I want to be free, but because of my disability, I can't.”
“While taking this photo, I felt a huge difference between life and death. I hoped not to die like this dead leaf while living.”
***
İlhan (Iraq, 29 years old, physical disability):
“No matter how many leaves the trees shed in autumn, in the spring, they turn greener and more beautiful than they were before. I’m sure a feather more beautiful than this worn one has grown on you.”
“The harder life is, the stronger I am. I'm living my life.”
“You are standing on the beautiful streets of Türkiye, you are like a dream. You're standing under that tree with that blue colour of yours. I wish you could take me to places I can't reach.”
***
Jan Muhammet ( Afghanistan, 47 years old, physical disability):
“While taking this photo, I thought that the two eyes on the tree trunk represent the threats awaiting us in life.”
“Sunset reminds me of sadness and sadness. Here, the light from the window reflected on the glass table reminded me of what I had felt at sunset.”
“The sky was very clear. The plane in the middle of it represents freedom for me.”
***
Munzir (Syria, 24 years old, physical disability):
“This image made me feel sad. I remembered my brother who was far away from me. He was entangled in electrical wires and his freedom was taken away.”
“This photo allowed me to apply what I learned in training. There were people who took care of me. There were lots of things I learned. It was a very enjoyable day for me.”
***
Zihan (Iraq, 36 years old, visually impaired):
“The rings around this branch reminded me of the wheel of life. The wheel that keeps rotating no matter what.”
“The bubbles in the fountain in this picture reminded me of sea waves.”
“The trimmed tree branches grew back where they were cut. They came back to life and continued to bloom—just like life goes on despite all the obstacles.”
***
Fariba (Afghanistan, 31 years old, physical disability):
“I'm in love with the universe. This photo reminds me of it, its galaxies and black holes.”
“This photo reminds me of my grandfather's house where I lived during my childhood. With its mud walls and tangled tree branches, it almost took me back to my juvenility.”
