Sadly, stateless children do not have access to formal education as they are not allowed to enrol in public schools due to their undocumented status.
With these sobering facts in mind, three Malaysians – Faisal Aziz, Zikri Rahman and Akmal Zamri – came up with the idea of creating a photobook to document the lives of stateless children in Kuala Lumpur.
“Eyes That Speak” features photographs by 28 students between the ages of 13 and 17 from Buku Jalanan Chow Kit, a community centre that provides education to underprivileged children in the area.
“Stateless communities were at the risk of being detained during the pandemic, which made us feel anxious and helpless,” Faisal, the founder of Facebook community PhotobookClub KL, tells FMT.
“The idea was to design a safe space that allowed for reflection and expression,” he says, adding that they were also inspired by the #MigranJugaManusia campaign that emerged following raids by the authorities on Malaysia’s migrant communities last year.
The project was sponsored by footwear brand VANS as part of the VANS Checkerboard Fund, established in support of non-profit organisations that enable creative self-expression through art, music, action sports or street culture.
For most of the children, it was their first time using disposable cameras.
“We decided to use film cameras not just because of aesthetics, but also so they could learn the technical aspects of how a camera actually works,” Faisal explains.
The students were taught the art of storytelling via photography as a medium for self-discovery, specifically in exploring their personalities and daily lives during the pandemic.
“Their stories were a form of exchange that allowed them to get to know one another better,” Faisal says, adding that sessions with certified counsellors were also held so the kids could further share the stories behind the pictures.
Carefully curated excerpts of their conversations with the counsellors are featured in the 105-page photobook.
“This was crucial for assessing their mental health, as it was quite common for them to have felt loneliness and anxiety during the pandemic,” Faisal says.
These sessions proved therapeutic as they provided the children with a means of communicating their day-to-day experiences and reflections during lockdown – being stuck at home, helping their parents at food stalls, preparing for online classes, longing to hang out with friends, traumatic spaces within the city, as well as places that bring them joy.
In addition, Japanese dancer-therapist Manizia Kajiwara was brought in to develop impromptu choreography based on the photographs.
The students participated in the workshop, which was conducted online, and learnt how to express themselves through movement.
The title “Eyes That Speak” reflects the notion that the way humans see and perceive things helps articulate collective experiences.
“Words have the tendency to reduce and dehumanise our sense of being,” Faisal says. “Pictures really have a thousand poignant stories behind them. The photos help the children articulate their thoughts and provide clarity.”
Apart from making one more sensitive towards one’s surroundings, photography can help with decision-making, boost self-esteem, and improve memory, Faisal adds.
“With this in mind, our hope is for the students to be able to communicate with us through their ‘eyes’,” he says.
Proceeds from the sale of “Eyes That Speak” will go towards more photography activities for the children.
Get your copy of ‘Eyes That Speak’ for RM50 via Shopee. For more information, visit the Buku Jalanan Chow Kit website.