By Martha Flyvholm Tode
Webinars and E-learning. If there is one positive thing to say about COVID-19 then it must be that the lockdowns and social restrictions have created an opportunity for many to take a step back and develop their skills, gain knowledge, and focus on studying.
Gaining knowledge was precisely the focal point of DEDI’s Media Programme of 2020. In 2020, 69 Egyptian journalists completed DEDI’s online course, Editorial Guidelines for Egyptian Journalists. Also, 10 Egyptian photographers graduated from a Masterclass in photojournalism, organized and delivered by one of Europe’s best photojournalism schools, the Danish School of Media & Journalism (DMJX), in collaboration with Photopia and sponsored by DEDI.
Masterclass in Photojournalism
How to take a good portrait photo? How to structure a photo essay? And how to write stories for your visuals? In the course of one year, a series of workshops were conducted, preparing the participating photographers for entering the field of photojournalism professionally.
In November, the students handed in their graduation projects on a self-chosen topic. The photo stories will be exhibited at Cairo Photo Week later this year, where the participants also will receive their diplomas, which are accredited by DMJX. As it will appear, the topics varied from documenting the lives of refugees to sports dreams to the personal stories of life, death, and the time in between. Below, we are giving you a brief introduction to some of the essays.
Hassiba by Anas Kamal
Photo: Anas Kamal
In his photo-essay, Anas Kamal documents the story of 38-year-old Hassiba Alnjabi. She is a single mother to five and left her life in western Sudan to find a safe home for herself and her children. Now she is living as a refugee in Cairo.
Sentenced to life, with love by Hala Hisham
Photo: Hala Hisham
Sentenced to life, with love documents the ‘non-fleeting years’ of the elderly in a Cairo senior home. Through a series of 14 photos, Hala gives us an insight into the daily routines, relations, and lives of the residences at Dar Fouad, one of Cairo’s more high-end care homes.
Quater a dream by Peter Loza
Photo: Peter Loza
25-years old Mina is working hard to achieve his dream of becoming a professional American Football player in the quarterback position. In this photo-essay, Peter Loza gives us an insight into Mina’s life, which centers around training and preparations.
Money Cycle Weddings by Mahmoud Nada
Photo: Mahmoud Nada
Getting married is expensive. In this photo reportage, Mahmoud Nada takes us to a ‘Money cycle wedding’-event. The main goal of this event is for the couple-to-be to collect money to start their lives together. The celebration is hosted by the husband and attended by people from the neighborhood or region. This creates a money cycle, where the host will pay back the money to the participants when they get married.
The course was designed and delivered by The Danish School of Media & Journalism (DMJX) in collaboration with Photopia, with the support of DEDI. The graduation projects will be exhibited during the Cairo Photo Week and the participants will receive their diplomas accredited by DMJX.
