WON DERING A B OUT
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ISSUE 4 | 11 JAN’21
CONTENTS
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EDITOR’S LETTER Cinzia D’Ambrosi introduces the fourth issue
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ABOUT THE PHOTOJOURNALISM HUB
LONDON, DECEMBER 2020 By Urmila Nagarkoti
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LIVING A CHRISTMAS UNDER LOCKDOWN By Tiana Rendimonti
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UNWAVERING FAITH By Ava-Jayani Karanth
DANCEWEST By Subeer Suri
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ILLUSTRATIONS By Soraya Sol and Vittoria
CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR IN CHIEF Cinzia D’Ambrosi
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DIGITAL EDITOR Laura James
ARTICLES / PHOTO STORIES Tiana Rendimonti Vittoria Soraya Sol Ava-Jayani Karanth Urmila Nagarkoti Subeer Suri
GET IN TOUCH Photojournalism Hub Cinzia@Photojournalismhub.org
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EDITOR’S LETTER
I
t is with great pleasure to present the fourth issue of Wondering about West London? a news-based zine run by the Photojournalism Hub (Photojournalismhub.org) and kindly supported by the resident-led partnership W12Together (W12together.org). Wondering about West London? is produced by young people living in west London and covers local news and stories. The fourth issue brings us a great array of photo stories focusing on Christmas and Winter Holidays with London in full lockdown as well as an article with Rosie Whitney-Fish, Founder and Chief Executive of DanceWest. Wondering about West London? is also accompanied by wonderful illustrations by two young participants on the project. Wondering about West London? Issue four is sadly our last edition for the time being. As the Editor in Chief of the magazine, as well as a project manager and facilitator of the project, I would like to share my feelings of awe at the determination, initiative and creativity demonstrated by the young people. The zine has shared meaningful, resourceful and touching content from a youth perspective. The work produced in and around
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west London is an important impression of our challenging times. I would also like to thank our Editor Laura James who has worked on the layout of the zine. It has been an incredibly enriching experience and I am immensely proud of the content produced throughout that will have lasting impact. I am very thankful to W12together for supporting this worthwhile project.
Cinzia D’Ambrosi, Editor in Chief
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ABOUT THE PHOTOJOURNALISM HUB
T
he Photojournalism Hub is a not for profit community group that uses Photojournalism to address and engage people to human rights abuses and social justice issues and it connects Photojournalism to action for policy change by training individuals and organisations to expose social justice issues. The Photojournalism Hub is a not for profit community group that promotes, advances and provides training in high quality photojournalism The Photojournalism Hub trains local community groups and individuals to advocate for social justice through a photography and citizen led programme called Visual Citizen Journalism. A course helping to present and address social justice issues for policy changes through visual evidence, photo stories and active citizen journalism.
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The Photojournalism Hub organises Photojournalism Exhibitions, Talks, Events and fo s ter s dialogue and co ll ab ora t i on in t he develo pment o f in-dept h j ourn a lis t ic inves tigative res earch o n h um a n r ight s viol ations . The activities of the Photojournalism Hub focus on bringing together communities, advocates, researchers, journalists, photojournalists, criminal justice teams, and all those interested in the advancement of fair and independent journalism to raise awareness, advocate and deliver recommendations on today’s national and international social justice issues.
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LONDON, DECEMBER 2020 Photography by Urmila Nagarkoti
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LIVING A CHRISTMAS UNDER LOCKDOWN Photography by Tiana Rendimonti
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UNWAVERING FAITH Text and Photography by Ava-Jayani Karanth
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or this photo story, I originally planned to show ‘A Covid-19 Christmas’ in a street photography style, however, this is not what I ended up photographing. As I began taking photographs in White C i t y , I c a m e a c ro s s t w o c h u rc h e s a c ro s s t h e ro a d f ro m e a c h o t h e r . I w a s l u c k y e n o u g h to b e i n v i te d i n to o n e to
photograph the service. My photos capture the devoted Born-Again Christian congregation, who continued to meet in person weekly to profess their faith despite the threat of catching Coronavirus. The sermon was enriched by the congregation’s songs, music, and call for God through actions and posters.
Lady of Fatima Catholic Church has multiple crosses in front of the church.
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During these testing times, faith bodies have been calling for people to find strength and determination within. The sub-headings of ‘Solidarity and Peace’, ‘Love in Action’, and ‘Dignity’ above the local Catholic Church reflects the universal pastors’ call to cherish these principles.
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The outside of St Michael and St George Church, which serves White City community at large as well as activities from various faith led groups.
People are still trying to congregate as much as they can. Even though they have challenges to turn up to ceremonies, they practice their faith as much as they can.
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Born-Again Christians meet weekly in White City at St Michael and St George Church and here they are preparing the hall for their ceremony.
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They put Bibles on chairs before the congregation begins to worship God.
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They put up posters to entice God in.
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The Pastor’s wife looks forward to new people joining the congregation and is writing information on a pamphlet.
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They use actions and songs to speak to God.
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DANCEWEST Text by Subeer Suri
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anceWest is a west London based charity transforming health and wellbeing and making dance accessible to everyone. I caught up with Founder Rosie Whitney-Fish, a Choreographer and proud west Londoner who is passionate that everyone should have access to dance and values the impact that taking part in dance can have on people’s physical and mental health. ‘What’s exciting about DanceWest is that our 70 programmes are led by 54 incredible dance teachers who bring a huge range of skills and knowledge to every class. Our teachers are internationally recognised for their work in dementia, parkinsons and are able to make dance accessible to people of all ages and abilities’. Pre Covid-19 DanceWest programmes took place in different community locations in west London including hospitals, libraries, care homes, sheltered housing and people referral units with the ambition of providing ‘dance for everyone and everybody’. In 2019 DanceWest supported 36,000 people to have access to free and low cost programmes. When the pandemic hit, DanceWest adapted with a thoughtful programme of online classes, Rosie comments; ‘It was important to keep everyone moving, provide a connection to each other and some light relief or entertainment. After
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a digital audit, it was clear we were going to have to provide support to get people online, access low-cost or free technology and think of different ways for making our programme accessible’. As well as online classes, DanceWest provided DVD dance classes, posted training packs and newsletters. ‘We then wanted to build a connection between our audiences. Pre-Covid we were providing tea dances and discos so we experimented with these in a digital capacity’. DanceWest offered 1-2-1 support helping people to get online, feel confident with Zoom and access tariffs and technology. I asked what 2021 will be like for DanceWest and Rosie shared that ‘we will continue to provide online dance programmes and when the organisation is able to we will support the community in having the option of taking part live or remaining online. Supporting our community post Covid-19 is our priority. The impact of being isolated and shielding will mean that our community will need our work more than ever. I truly believe that by participating in dance we can build and restore our community’.
You can find out more information about DanceWest and their work at: www.dancewest.co.uk
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©DanceWest Bolder not Older, Tricia de Courcy Ling
©DanceWest Bolder not Older at the Troubadour Trust
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©DanceWest Bolder Not Older, Elixir Extracts, Ellie Kurttz
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©DanceWest Move it Mondays
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©DanceWest Bolder Not Older, Tricia de Courcy Ling
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ILLUSTRATIONS By Soraya Sol and Vittoria
©Vittoria
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©Soraya Sol, Renaissance des Snow
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DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT Wondering about West London? has made all the possible care to ensure that content is accurate on the date of publication. The views expressed in the articles, photo stories and other editorial content reflect the author(s) opinions and do not necessarily are the views of the publisher and editor. The published material, editorials and all other content is published in a good faith. Wondering about West London? cannot guarantee and accepts no liability for any loss or damage of any kind caused by this publication. All rights reserved and nothing can be partially or in whole be reprinted or reproduced without a written consent. On the Wondering about West London? you might find links to other websites, third- party content and advertising. By reading the publication and using our website you acknowledge that and agree that Just Zine cannot be held responsible and shall not be liable for content of other websites and other resources. Just Zine reserves the right to make changes to any information on this site without a notice. No person, organisation or party can copy or re-produce the content on this site and/ or magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the editors’ panel and the author of the content, as applicable. The publisher (photojournalismhub.org), authors and contributors reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work. The copyright includes (and not limited to) The content and/or images used in any of the articles of this publication the Wondering about West London? logo and any of its derivatives The content on the Wondering about West London? magazine and its website are made available on the terms and condition that the publisher, editors, contributors, and related parties: shall have no responsibility for any action or omission by any other contributor, consultant, editor or related party disclaim any and all liability and responsibility to any person or party, be they a purchaser, reader, advertiser or consumer of this publication or not in regards to the consequences and outcomes of anything done or omitted being in reliance whether partly or solely on the contents of this publication and related website and products are not responsible in any way for the actions or results taken any person,
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