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| Ken Kamara© |
Today would have been the 21st birthday of an exceptional young man, Kiyan Prince. I had the pleasure of getting to know his dad Mark Prince in 2009. I was in my second year at university doing a photographic degree. We had to come up with a subject we felt very strongly about for our second year project. After some deliberation; me, Andre Laing, and Ken Kamara decided on working with the parents of the victims of gun and knife crime/youth violence.
We worked with 10 parents including Mark where we spoke to them about the circumstances surrounding their children's deaths. We filmed them talking about the circumstances and the affects it had on them. Andre Laing edited the film. We then took portraits of the parents, Ken Kamara photographed them. Finally the scenes where the incidences occurred were photographed by me. It was to be a project that further changed our lives, a project we called 'Them'. All the parents were remarkable with regards to accepting the true hands of friendship we offered to them, they were not just here to help us achieve an important piece of work. It quickly became apparent that they were here to teach us about humility, dignity, grace, strength and patience.
Listening to their stories was difficult and brought many emotions to the surface for them and us. Many times we shed tears once they had left us, wondering and admiring how they manage to continue living their lives without their children. Some of them like Mark, went on to create their own foundations in the memory of their children's names. The Kiyan Prince Foundation does wonderful and important work reaching out to young people by giving them the opportunity to turn their lives away from crime and youth violence and to challenge their energies in positive ways by giving them the skills to regain their self worth giving them a sense of belonging and creating new opportunities for their future.
I would like to finish by saying to Mark Prince... You built and created a wonderful organisation through sheer courage, determination and tenacity. I know that Kiyan would be so proud of his parents and all that you both have achieved, primarily in the name of love.
On behalf of Priscilla Etienne, Andre Laing, and Ken Kamara thank you for the time you gave us and we will continue to support yours and all the other parents causes.
To make a donation and to see all the vital work the foundation continues to do go to;
www.kiyan.org
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