Grade 11: Born Into Brothels Extended Cut

All information in this post has been gathered from the Amnesty International Curriculum Guide for the Born into Brothels documentary.

Gour, 13 "Running"

Kochi, 10 "Babai"

This lesson focuses on the power of art as a form of personal expression in the transformation of the lives of children who have suffered painful or traumatic pasts. Experiencing traumatic circumstances can lead to overwhelming feelings of chaos, helplessness and fear, and any form of art can serve as a means to overcome such feelings. In an interview with Zana Briski, co-producer of the documentary, she explained what this process meant to her. “For me personally, photography is a means of transformation. It is very personal and regardless of the project that I did—I taught photography because I am a photographer, it could have been music, it could have been dance, any form of art. And at Kids with Cameras, we really encourage people to take whatever skill they have, whatever knowledge they have, and to have it…[A]ny form of art can be used as a means of transformation…It isn’t really about how to earn a living. It isn’t about taking a formal portrait. This is expressing yourself and being open to what is around you and just learning.”


 Please read the case studies on this link.

(You may skip the last section on pg 34 about the "Fugees Soccer Team")

Using information from the film and the case studies complete the following activity. Post your responses in a new blog post titled "Photography with a Message".

Kids with Cameras Gallery



Kochi, 10 "Up the Stairs"