Girls Girls Girls

A photo project by Firecracker photographer, Lee-Ann Olwage –

‘Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and practices, poor infrastructure and violence. Worldwide, 129 million girls are out of school.

What do girls dream of? And what happens when a supportive environment is created where girls are empowered and given the opportunity to learn and dream? The Right To Play and subsequently the next chapter Girls Girls Girls merges documentary storytelling with an imagined playful world where girls are the shown in an empowered and affirming way blooming as the heroines of their own stories and overcoming the many barriers to getting an education.

For the second chapter I worked with high school girls from Athlone High School. Athlone High is a public school situated in the Cape Flats neighbourhood of Silvertown, Athlone, in Cape Town South Africa. The area is plagued by gang violence, drug abuse and poverty all contributing towards young people dropping out of school. The pressure of getting a job and helping to support their families, teenage pregnancies and gang culture are some of the contributing factors to girls from this community not finishing school.

In this project the girls are briefly free of the worries of their environment and free to dream while shown in a way that is affirming and celebratory.’