Through the Merafe Hostel Project, Of Soul & Joy is using the power of photography to uplift young people in Soweto.
Soweto, South Africa (13 August 2025) – A powerful movement is happening at Merafe Hostel in Soweto. A group of young people are learning to tell their stories. You might be thinking through their words, but it’s actually through the lens of a camera. Thanks to the Of Soul & Joy (OSJ) initiative, photography is becoming more than just a skill, but a form of self-expression and a possible career path.
Since 2012, OSJ has been bringing photography workshops to underserved communities across South Africa. Their mission is to give young people the tools to see and show their world in new ways. Their latest project is with Merafe Hostel Project. A vibrant collaboration with local youth leader Swazi Tshabalala, and it is making a huge impact.
Running weekly workshops at the hostel, the project brings together young people aged 15 to 32. All coming with curiosity and leaving with a valuable skill. The project provides a creative outlet where they can explore identity, culture, and their surroundings through photographs.
This initiative is part of OSJ’s broader vision to open doors in communities where opportunities are scarce. Participants are not just learning photography, but also how to build a creative career, whether that is commercial shoots, documentary work, or educational projects.
Sessions are held every weekend, with 30 students diving into visual storytelling. They are currently crafting individual photo projects that will be unveiled at the OSJ Foto Festival in October 2025 in Thokoza. There is also an exciting outdoor exhibition planned for December, where their work will be shared with the public on a large-scale wall.
These community-led projects are also guided with mentorship from OSJ alumni. The students also benefit from regular feedback sessions and trips to art events to broaden their horizons.
As OSJ Project Manager and award-winning photographer Jabulani Dhlamini says,
“Photography transcends the barriers of language, ethnicity, and social status. It’s a tool that unites, offering people a way to express themselves and communicate their stories to the world. Through this project, we’re providing the youth with a platform to tell their own narratives through photography, which allows them to show the world who they are and where they come from, breaking down the stereotypes often associated with places like Merafe Hostel.”
Stereotypes of poverty, neglect, and violence have overshadowed places like Merafe. Through this project, the youth are flipping the narrative, reminding us that hostels are also spaces of community, history, and resilience.
They are also taking part in OSJ’s Women’s Month collaboration, bringing together female photographers from Merafe and Thokoza to learn and grow together.
OSJ is proving that it is about potential and proving that creativity can thrive anywhere.
Sources: Supplied
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