In a region facing high unemployment rates, Of Soul and Joy (OSJ) provides a vital alternative, a photography workshop that seeks to bring skills and the vibrant world of photography to the youth of rural KwaZulu-Natal.
Nkandla, South Africa (04 April 2025) – The youth of rural KwaZulu-Natal are about to view the world through a whole new lens.
Of Soul and Joy (OSJ), a pioneering South African photography initiative that has empowered disadvantaged communities in Thokoza for over a decade, has expanded its transformative work to rural KwaZulu-Natal!
With South Africa’s youth unemployment rate consistently among the highest globally—especially in rural areas—initiatives like OSJ are vital in providing alternative pathways to economic independence.
From 26 March to 5 April 2025, the initiative has been conducting intensive workshops for unemployed youth and students at Ithala Secondary School in Nkandla.
The photography skills taught through this programme open doors to careers in the creative industries, including commercial and editorial photography, documentary work, and visual education.
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This expansion reflects OSJ’s strategic commitment to bringing essential creative skills development to rural areas where educational and employment opportunities for youth are often limited.
After recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, OSJ continues to combine professional skills training with community engagement and personal empowerment. The programme’s rural workshop presents a unique opportunity for OSJ alumni to serve as mentors, completing the full circle of education, leadership, and empowerment.
“One of our core objectives is to reach disadvantaged communities excluded from mainstream storytelling platforms due to factors such as affordability, historical background, and unemployment,” says Jabulani Dhlamini, project manager and OSJ founder.
“We recognised the importance of expanding beyond Thokoza to establish empowerment opportunities in rural areas like Nkandla, where creative education can transform individual lives and entire communities.”
Unlocking creative potential
The two-week programme focuses on visual storytelling, both as an artistic practice and a potential career path. Participants will receive hands-on training with professional equipment, including 10 cameras, seven point-and-shoot cameras, five laptops, and a projector for training sessions.
Learning will also extend beyond the classroom as students engage in practical lessons on location to practice their newfound skills in real-world settings. At the workshop’s conclusion on Saturday, 5th April, participants will showcase their work in a community exhibition from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, with their photos projected for all to see.
The programme will be led by a team of OSJ alumni mentors and seasoned professional photographers, all deeply rooted in South Africa’s vibrant photographic community. Mentors include Jabulani Dhlamini, Tshepiso Mazibuko, Thandile Zwelibanzi, Xolani Ngubeni, Teboho Mabuya, and Fuwe Molefe.
The goal is to empower the youth to demonstrate competence in photography, create a cohesive body of work, analyse images, interpret their meaning, tell stories visually, and develop essential writing skills such as crafting biographies.
This extension of OSJ’s work into rural KwaZulu-Natal demonstrates the organisation’s broader strategy to expand its reach to underserved communities across South Africa in the coming years.
Sources: Supplied
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