Are all homeless people represented in Empathy?
BRAAMFONTEIN - See who showed Empathy in Braamfontein.
Do you feel empathy for the homeless man on the street? Debbie Yazbek does.
Debbie Yazbek, internationally-acclaimed photojournalist and multi award-winning photographer, officially released her latest offering to the world, Empathy, in a back-alley in Braamfontein on 23 June.
The event was packed wall-to-wall with numerous people who donned Empathy beanies. They were also given blankets to mimic the feeling of the cold nights faced by the homeless to truly experience life on the street. Guests were also treated to homeless shelter meals of beef and vegetable or butternut soup, with a small bread roll.
The alley was lined with photos and excerpts from the coffee table book, telling the stories of a number of homeless people who Yazbek encountered during her journey into the creation of the book, Empathy.
In an address to the public, she explained that she wanted to create the book in order to show the plight of the homeless to allow the public to better understand their daily challenges and create awareness of their situations.
The project came about as a partnership between the acclaimed photographer, Ali Gregg, founder and chief executive officer of The CEO SleepOut, Sun International, Caxton and CTP Publishers and Printers and The Salvation Army.
“I believe that Empathy is a book that captures the stories of individuals in a very unique manner,” said Jaco Koekemoer, chief executive officer of Caxton and CTP Printers, the company that printed the coffee table books free of charge.
“There is a special message to be found in each one of them. For me, personally, what came out strongly in the book was the longing of many to just feel that they do belong in this world.”
The books were available for purchase at the event, with proceeds to be donated to The Salvation Army.
“At Caxton and CTP publishers and Printers we pride ourselves in getting involved in every community our newspapers and title sites operate in. That is why this campaign was very special to our heart,” Koekemoer said.
Details: CEO Sleepout.
