Photo for Freedom – VOLTA « YGAP – Y Generation Against Poverty

The Project

The inaugural YGAP Photo for Freedom – Volta is designed to focus on and bring attention to child slavery in the African country of Ghana. In early 2011, Melbourne photographer, Tom Goldner conducted a photographic journey and study of individuals, communities, landscape, daily life and work around the Lake Volta region. Tom’s images will depict this journey and be displayed during a Photographic Exhibition housed at the Y Generation Against Poverty (YGAP) headquarters in St Kilda to raise public awareness of child slavery and raise funds to contribute to the project in Ghana.

YGAP will use the proceeds from this project to continue combating child slavery in Ghana.

In February 2011 YGAP arranged for a group of approximately 14 Australian volunteers to help stop trafficking and the exploitation of children in the fishing villages along Lake Volta during a four-week period in February and March 2011. Tom volunteered to be one of the 14. He spent 14-days conducting the Photo for Freedom project after completing the volunteering phase of his journey. The project saw Tom traveling to some of the most remote regions of Ghana documenting the environment and work of the communities directly affected by modern day slavery.

To read about Tom’s experience and adventures visit his project blog at:

www.photoforfreedom.com/blog/ghana-week-1-2-volunteer-stages

www.photoforfreedom.com/blog/ghana-week-3-4-the-photo-for-freedom-project

The exhibition will consist of a major launch at the YGAP headquarters in central St Kilda. To sign up for the exhibition opening and to follow the project please visit

www.photoforfreedom.com

About Tom

Tom Goldner (b.1984) is an award winning photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. After completing a degree Tom has developed his skills in many areas within the photographic profession. Previously head photographer for one of Melbourne’s leading portrait studios, he has focused predominantly on portrait making over the past seven years. As Tom’s passions lie in both travel and photography, combining the two comes easily. Tom has conducted much travel abroad and has been regularly contracted to photograph at events in South East Asia over the past few years.

In 2010 tom affiliated himself with YGAP and become directly involved in fund raising for the anti-trafficking work in Ghana. After opening his eyes to the realities of human trafficking Tom found new direction with his photography and life goals. The inaugural project in Ghana is the first of many Photo for Freedom projects, which Tom hopes will one day be his life’s work. In 2011 Tom was announced APPA (Australian Professional Photography Awards) Documentary Photographer of the year- Runner up and received one silver award and one silver with distinction. Through exhibition, book publication and competition circuits Tom is establishing himself as a leading photojournalist.

“After witnessing the impact of human trafficking first hand this project has become more important than I could ever have imagined. The success of this project can bring significant change to the people who need it most.”. – Tom Goldner