Art in All of Us workshop for children for Unicef Cambodia

November 2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which established a set of fundamental rights for all children and young people: to survive, develop, be protected from violence, abuse and neglect, and take part in family, cultural and social life.

In Cambodia, UNICEF collaborated with Belgian photographer Isabelle Lesser to host 3 workshops for 150 children, aged 7 – 13, to create awareness of their rights and provide opportunities for them to express their views and ideas using a curriculum established by Art in All of Us.

In addition to the Art and Photography workshops Isabelle documented with photos all children workshops.

The art and photography workshops were held in August 2014 in Battambang, Siem Reap and Kampong Cham.

An exhibition was born in November 2014,100 photographs were exposed in Wat Bothum square in Phnom Penh Cambodia to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights. Isabelle curated the exhibition in collaboration with the IFC (Institut Francaise du Cambodge).

Photography plays an important role in shaping our attitudes towards other people, cultures and places.
They can be put to good use, even with very young children, to raise questions, challenge stereotypes, develop empathy and encourage respect for their own culture and that of others.
Photography is a great tool to encourage Art Therapy expression, as a means of expression accessible and friendly for all children.
It also stimulates curiosity and opens the dialogue. It is therefore often used in workshop for children “at risk” as child soldiers, refugees, street children.