In 1983 Franki Raffles was awarded a Kodak Bursary in order to undertake a project at Pinewood Special School in Edinburgh.
The project was designed to develop the creative expression of the children by teaching them to to take photographs, initially with Polaroid instant cameras, and later with 35mm cameras.
In many ways groundbreaking, the project was a direct result of Franki’s deeply held belief in the power of photography as a tool for social engagement and empowerment, rather than as exploitation.
The project was fully documented in a booklet, We Can Take Pictures, published by Community Service Volunteers (available below). She continued to be involved with projects with children and young adults with special needs for the rest of her life. An exhibition of her photographs and the work of the children was shown in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London, in 1985.
Menu
