The Photosynthesis Project aims to change a child’s view of the world, through photography, film, art and literacy. To date the Project has worked with around 100 children from a small school/ orphanage in a small village near Pune, India to provide photography sessions, work on murals, video making classes, art, drama and English lessons, in order for the children to express themselves creatively and tell their own story. Their experiences have then been shared by groups of primary aged children in London; where the children looked at Google Earth to compare land use around both schools; one in the city and the other in a remote village, looked at a typical day in the life of an Indian child from Sumati Balwan School, watched a film of their school, looked at photographs and then used this material to then write and draw pictures about their own lives. The children also videoed their sessions and went on to present what they had learned to the rest of the school at an assembly. Future plans include working with other Primary schools within London and holding photo/art exhibitions of the other schools work in both London and India to allow the children to tell a visual story about a different country, culture and way of life and allow the children to gain skills and confidence in organising an event of this kind and in the process, breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes and increasing tolerance.

To get involved, buy photos or donate either money or resources such as cameras and art equipment please contact Marian on

thephotosynthesisproject@live.com