Saudi Gazette A photography exhibition held by Effat University in Jeddah had an unusual theme — humanitarian issues — to make the world listen to those who rarely get heard. Creativity was to be blended with a message and mission this year. Around 50 photographers from within the university and outside enthusiastically participated; and with their cameras captured an image of desperation, told a story of a person who had been deprived of his basic human rights, and a whole lot of other heart-rending issues. The humanitarian photography exhibition is on display at Atelier Art Gallery on Tahlia Street, and has been attended by well-known photographers like Samer Al-Owfi and Hani Abu Al-Jadayil. All submissions were pictures clicked by photographers in different regions of Jeddah over the course of a year. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Rania Ibrahim, the dean of students' affairs at Effat University and from day one it has witnessed a huge crowd. Many visitors, artists, and art enthusiasts showed up and were emotionally moved by the images they saw. The skill of the photographer was admired and enjoyed, yet the photographs in this exhibition did more than that, it made the viewer think of the pain the person in the photo was feeling and the ordeal he was suffering from. A visitor said, “The photographs remind us of those whose dignity has been taken away from them. Allah Himself has dignified mankind and given men and women the inborn right of living in safety and security.” “Effat University's students are keen on serving the community and this exhibition was one venue they used for helping members of the impoverished communities in Jeddah. The photography exhibition showed the society at large how talented these students really are and that these young women are a rich source of untapped energy, activity, strength, and skills that should be unleashed and invested in. “The humanitarian photography exhibition was not restricted to Effat University students alone, but was open to all photographers from all regions of the Kingdom and I thank all photographers who participated and all visitors who came to encourage our budding photographers,” said Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, president of Effat University. The supervisor of the exhibition, Areej Al-Shareef, said, “The goals of this exhibition are truly noble. First of all, the photographs on display at the exhibition shed light on those members of our community that we tend to shy away from and neglect. Second, all proceeds from the sale of photographs at the exhibition will go to the specially designated treasury for students at Effat University who come from low income families and need financial aid. The young photographers who participated in this exhibition are aware of their responsibility toward the less fortunate members of our society and toward their own friends who attend the same university as themselves.” __
