Let's Zoom In!

The Zoom In! photo exhibition was held at the Dutch ministery of Foreign Affairs (The Hague) from 17 November until 5 December 2008. This exhibition was the result of a creative photographic project for young people worldwide to explore love, sex and relationships. The project ended 30 november 2008 

Unique
Through the pictures and stories young people showed an unique view of their thoughts and concerns about their own Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), which they wanted to share with you. Furthermore, Zoom In! showed why a focus on young people and their SRHR is crucial in reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

Glance
Zoom In! was an international project in which young people from the Netherlands, Latvia and the UK get a glance in the lives of their peers in developing countries. Young people from Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and from China and Mexico took photos and wrote stories which tell about their lives. And specifically about issues such as sex, love and relationships. In return, the young Europeans did the same, but their lives are sometimes totally different.

3 components
The exhibition was the end result of the project, which contains of 3 components. One is a lesson package on CD-ROM with pictures and stories from developing countries. Dutch schools can use the CD-Rom to create their own pictures and stories, and even to create their own exhibition. Apart from pictures and stories, the CD-ROM also contains a series of factsheets about sexual and reproductive health and rights. These can be used in the classroom to discuss these issues, but also to get ideas to make pictures and write stories themselves.

Examples of pictures and stories

• Bangladesh - Pakistan - Latvia
• Vietnam – The Netherlands
• Zimbabwe - UK - Uganda

Advocacy booklet
Apart from the CD-ROM and the exhibition, there’s also an advocacy booklet. This can be used to advocate for politicians and policymakers for more funds for the sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people in the world. This booklet was  distributed at the opening of the exhibition.

• English version
• Dutch version
• Advocacy message

Final stage
The last phase of the project inlcudes distributing the CD-ROM and approaching Dutch schools to use it.

Partners
Zoom In! was an initiative of 4 European organisations working on sexual and reproductive health and rights:

• Marie Stopes International (UK)
• Papardes Zieds (Latvia)
• WPF/MYBODY (The Netherlands)
• YouAct (European youth network on sexual and reproductive rights)

 
This project was made possible by the European Union and the Dutch Postcode Lottery.