A picture is worth a thousand words. It was a lesson shared with a group of young orphans in Morocco recently, thanks to the team at Of Soul & Joy, who shared their photographic wisdom and inspired a new generation of storytellers.
South Africa (19 May 2025) – South Africans have long been known for their generosity of spirit, not just in giving but in sharing what matters most: knowledge, creativity, and opportunity. In a shining example of this Ubuntu in action, the Of Soul & Joy (OSJ) project is taking its passion for storytelling and photography global, extending a hand across the continent with a life-changing workshop in Morocco.
Running until 18 May 2025, the Johannesburg-based vocational photography programme led a workshop at the Dar Al Atfal Sidi Bernoussi orphanage in Casablanca. This initiative, supported by Rubis Mécénat and Vitogaz Maroc, aimed to empower underprivileged children through the art of visual storytelling, offering them the tools to share their world their way.
And it’s more than just a few lessons behind a camera lens. It’s about igniting creative curiosity, building confidence, and making sure young voices are seen and heard far beyond the walls of their circumstances.
A South African Heartbeat in Casablanca
At the heart of this workshop is celebrated South African photographer Jabulani Dhlamini, joined by Moroccan counterparts Marouane Beslem and Abdelhamid Behlamidi. Together, they guided children aged 11 and 12 through the technical and artistic fundamentals of photography, empowering them to use the camera not just as a tool but as a voice.
“Photography is a universal language – it goes beyond barriers of language, ethnicity, and creed. It’s a unifier, enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to creatively tell their stories. What’s truly powerful is that, through photography, these children can communicate with the world, and their stories will resonate with anyone, anywhere.” – Jabulani Dhlamini
The workshop ended with a public exhibition, which, for many of these young photographers, was their first opportunity to share their stories with an audience. The show, curated by Dhlamini, Beslem, and Behlamidi, was more than an exhibition; it was a celebration of resilience, creativity, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Now, the walls of the orphanage will also echo with creativity and new beginnings as the children learn to frame their world and envision a future through a different lens.
What began in South Africa as a small but mighty movement to uplift township youth through photography is now a continental conversation. With every shutter click, Of Soul & Joy reaffirms its mission: to create storytellers, changemakers, and dreamers who believe in the power of their perspective.
As the Moroccan workshop closes, it is a timely reminder of the role we all play in shaping the stories of tomorrow. South Africa is not only giving; it’s guiding, inspiring, and helping children across Africa turn snapshots into legacies.
You can follow along the journey via Instagram here, to learn more about what is happening right here in South Africa and beyond.
by 