London 2012 blog

It's an exciting time for Welcoming the World - we have just started with around 550 young people who will be picking up cameras and photo-documenting their local area. The students are then going to make presentations, portfolios or short films with soundtracks to show what they think is important or unique in their area.

We’ve spent the last couple of weeks visiting the schools within the 5 Host Boroughs for planning sessions for the project. We rode our bicycles along canals, vibrant high streets and across parklands to get to the schools. Because this project will be using film and photography, I’ve started really looking at places I’m passing through. These Host Boroughs, along with Newham and Tower Hamlets, are going to be great for photography and filming. I was struck with the richness of contrasts within these areas. And, that it’s a long way on a bike from Hackney to the outskirts of Waltham Forest and Greenwich. 

Welcoming the World is structured on the Olympic Values – Friendship, Respect and Excellence and the Paralympic Values – Determination, Courage, Inspiration and Equality. The youth-centred project, divided into My World – photography and sound and Our World – film and sound, has been designed in collaboration with creative and education partners to enable the students to represent and reflect on people, places, events, activities and interests within their borough. 

The project has been funded by Creative Partnerships London East and South to work in 20 schools within the 5 Host Boroughs.  The project is a pilot education project, undertaken prior to the launch of the LOCOG Education Programme in September 2008. An inter-school sharing of the project will take place in early July 2008.

By working with high-calibre artists, we are supporting the production of high-quality, and therefore inspirational, creative outcomes from all the participants.