The photo workshop Out of the Box is an educative research programme with a goal to familiarize the workshop attendants how to use creative reflection on a photo medium and its capabilities to dislocate themselves from a common zone of classical photographic approach and conduct a rounded photo story. As part of an art programme of the Students’ City Cultural Center in Belgrade the trainees of the Out of the Box photo workshop attended lectures and received various examples from the practice to gain necessary preliminary knowledge on managing photography projects, conducting them from concept through realization. Workshops aim to provide students, through learning about photography as an artistic form using a specific communication language, with basic knowledge on photography, additionally shaped by practical work. The workshop was led by Marija Konjikušić, a photographer and art historian. One of the Out of the Box photo workshop students was Andrijana Kovačević, who chose a theme of Foreign students in the Students’ City as a subject for her photo project. Some of the photos from Andrijana Kovačević’s project were included in a photo collection They: Live, Student Lives at the Students’ City on an international platform Topoteka. Some of her work can be seen below.
Mohammad Hossein Karami (Teheran, Iran)
I have brought two souvenirs with me. One of them is the Cyrus Cylinder, which is an ancient document in a form of a clay cylinder, issued by Persian King Cyrus the Great. The other is the Tomb of Cyrus. It is believed to be the grave of Cyrus the Great, founder of the ancient Achaemenid Empire. Thise two were the easiest for me to take and remember home whenever I cast a look upon them.
Maureen Nkatha Gitari (Chuka, Kenya)
Since we’re far from home, a bag, a flag and sandals from time to time serve as reminders for where I come from, and I will always be a Kenyan, no matter where I go. Kenya is rich in culture and tradition; it has a role in who I am and what I connect to. That is why these are the souvenirs that I cherish that take a special place in my heart.
Rose Muthoni Thumbi (Nakuru, Kenya)
I have brought with me a bracelet and a carved elephant, because they represent our Kenyan culture. This bracelet is handmade by women from Masai tribe. We who wear these bracelets not only represent Masai culture, but also entire Kenyan culture. As for this elephant, Kenya is known for being a very developed tourist destination, thanks to the five animals, which are an elephant, a lion, a leopard, a buffalo, and a rhinoceros. That is why this wooden elephant figure makes me feel closer to home.
Madhavi Puja Wanisha Soman (Wanica, Suriname)
I love cooking and prefer making my own food over dining in a canteen. For this occasion, I have prepared two traditional Surinamese dishes. Chana is salty, slightly hot dish made of hummus, and Mohanbog is a traditional Indian sweet that I used to eat very often back home. Main ingredients are wheat farina, milk, and raisins. Neither dish requires long cooking, they can be done in 30 minutes. I have also brought Suriname flag.
Abednego Oduro (Accra, Ghana)
I have got with me this T-shirt that is bound to the tradition of Ghana. It is made of African lace with designer canvas on the chest area. I wear it on various occasions, such as going to church, weddings, picnics.
Yonas Mulat (Bahir Dar, Ethiopia)
I have brought a flag of Ethiopia because it bears utmost importance for me, representing a symbol of freedom, hope, peace, justice, strength, and the right values.
Adejumo Temiloluwa (Iwo, Nigeria)
I hold the flag of my country in high regard, and as for the colours on it: the green symbolizes natural wealth, while the white represents peace and unity.
Marigold Akuokor Mensah and Marilyn Akweley Mensah (Accra, Ghana)
We have brought a pile of tops and dresses made of traditional African cloth, with colourful Arican design. The tops we are wearing now are among our favourites.
Sheddon Richardson (Saint George’s, Grenada)
I love wearing caps, so I decided to bring a cap coloured as the national flag. Colours and symbols of a flag carry cultural, political and regional meaning. The green signifies vegetations and agriculture of the island, while the yellow summons the Sun, as well as warmth and wisdom of the Grenadines. Red is for harmony, unity, bravery and vitality. Yellow stars on the red border symbolize the six administrative divisions of the country, and the yellow star on the red disk refers to the Capital, Saint George’s. Symbol of a nutmeg on crane recalls one of the primary agricultural export products of the island. The country is second biggest producer of nutmeg worldwide, right after Indonesia. That is why Grenada earned a nickname “Spice Island”.
Jabby Lungu (Lusaka, Zambia)
I have brought e jersey of the national football team of Zambia. It features the flag of my country, consisting of 4 colorus: green for agriculture and the country’s flora, red for its fight for freedom, black for the people of Zambia and orange for mineral resources of the country. An eagle symbolizes the people’s ability to overcome difficulties.
Glody Beya Bakulikira (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
This is the flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We celebrate our Independence Day on 30th June. Our national hero, Patrice Émery Lumumba, who fought for the independence, said: “There is no freedom without dignity, no justice without dignity, and no free man without independence “. Whenever I see this flag, I recall those words. Hail to Congo!
