USING CREATIVITY TO MOVE OTHERS FORWARD

April 18, 2016

RYAN HUMM

WELCOME
This ST(O)RY exhibition portrays the triumph of a
community in Zambia, Africa through large scale photography on loan from Poetice International.
Information on each photograph can be found on the
following pages of this booklet as well as mounted on
the walls next to each photograph. Please feel free to
explore the gallery. Enjoy!
* Please note: Photos 13-17 are located in the window
display area and are best viewed from just outside the
CultureWorks entrance.

PHOTOGRAPHER: RACHEL DURIK | NAPLES, FL

At the Academy of Music in Choma, Zambia, students often
practice their instruments outdoors. The academies of
music exist to provide classical training and public
performance opportunities to musically gifted orphans and
vulnerable children. The mission is to cultivate talent and
mature artistry while alleviating the burden of material needs,
so that each student is freed to dream and inspired to strive
toward his or her goals.

PHOTOGRAPHER: PAMELA WALWORTH BAKER |

STUDIO CITY, CA
A young boy kicks a soccer ball down a dusty road in
Swaziland. For many people around the world, sport and play
are immediately and inextricably tied to the notion of
childhood. Through play children explore, invent and create.
They also develop social skills, learn to express their emotions,
and gain confidence about their own capabilities. For many
children, however, the chance to learn and grow through sport
and play is unavailable, robbing them of some of the most
important experiences of childhood. Sports can be valuable
tools to promote health and prevent disease, both through
sport itself, and through the participatory act of watching
others play, with the associated communication, education
and social interaction that games can produce.

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

This photo is of two of Jacks (pictured within this gallery) sons
as they make a sweater on Jacks knitting machine. At ages 10
and 12, both boys are already extremely proficient in knitting.
Read Jacks full story: www.poetice.org/story/knittingalegacy

PHOTOGRAPHER: TEC PETAJA | NASHVILLE, TN

The harsh daily realities of the developing world demand a
survival mode that leaves little room for personal growth,
artistic expression or dreams. Young people must imagine
the future before it can be realized. Poetice International is
committed to fostering dreams, encouraging independence,
cultivating leadership and developing ingenuity by providing
artistic outlets for youth. Read a story about one of our
students at: www.poetice.org/story/sitali

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Pastor Adam Chibawe. He has been the pastor at the
Jordan PWC church located west of Munampamba, Zambia for
30 years. Living in a rural community means more
challenges due to complications caused by inadequate roads,
lack of clean water, and minimal access to medicines and
other items commonly found in larger cities. Poetice
International is helping Adam and his community by planting
an orange grove at the site of a new water well. The oranges
will help provide nourishment to the sick and food for the
hungry in his community. You can read Adams story at:
www.poetice.org/story/jordan

PHOTOGRAPHER: MICHAEL LIEDTKE | AMES, IOWA

Meet Sunday. As a child, his home life was extremely abusive.
For many years, he endured beatings from his family and was
made to do forced labor, until one day he was able to escape.
Sleeping in a tunnel under a road, Sunday lived as a street kid
for six years. He survived for a while by collecting plastic bags
and empty bottles that he would sell for 1 kwacha (about .09
cents), but eventually he resorted to stealing in order to
survive. He now lives in a safe place and has started attending
school again, thanks to a Poetice International scholarship. He
is 18 years old and in the 7th grade.

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Grace (name changed to protect her identity). Grace fled
a violently abusive upbringing when she was 15.
Unfortunately, the streets forced her into prostitution to
survive and care for her child. She is currently enrolled in
Poetices aftercare program and is receiving a scholarship to
finish school.

PHOTOGRAPHER: WILL HILL | NASHVILLE, TN

Meet Lisa. She is the daughter of Beauty (a graduate of
Poetices tailoring program). After her mothers escape from a
violent spouse, she came to live at one of Poetice
Internationals transitional homes. Poetice also provides her
with a school scholarship. You can read Beautys story at:
www.poetice.org/story/iamfree

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Victoria. She has a rare disease that affects her skin and
has prevented her from attending school. At the time of this
photo, she was 18 years old, but was only in 7th grade. Victoria
is a double orphan (both her mother and father have died)
and she lives with her grandmother. Poetice International took
Victoria to a hospital to get a proper diagnosis and medicine
to help her condition. After that, we also provided her with a
school scholarship that allowed her to start attending classes
again. You can read Victorias story at:
www.poetice.org/story/thriving

10

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Jack. He is a graduate of Poetice Internationals
tailoring and knitting programs. After graduating, Jack
immediately went back to his family and began to teach them
what he had learned. He now owns his own tailoring business
and has become a teacher in Poetices tailoring/knitting
program. Read Jacks story:
www.poetice.org/story/knittingalegacy

11

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Selena. She became a double orphan (both parents died)
when she was 3 years old. Since then, she has lived with her
grandmother, who managed to pay Selenas school fees until
the 7th grade. Selena is a top-notch student, and when her
grandmother wasnt able to continue to afford to send her to
school, Poetice International stepped in and provided a scholarship. Selena has excelled! She finished the 8th grade with the
highest grades in all of the Southern Province of
Zambia! Read Selenas story:
www.poetice.org/story/educationislife

12

PHOTOGRAPHER: TEC PETAJA | NASHVILLE, TN

Meet Myrah. She has been a student at the Academy of Music
in Choma, Zambia for over 5 years. As an orphan, the music
academy has been instrumental in her life. From practices to
performances, learning an instrument has help protect her
from falling prey to other dangerous activities like
prostitution. Read Myrahs story:
www.poetice.org/story/withallmyheart

13

PHOTOGRAPHER: TEC PETAJA | NASHVILLE, TN

In Zambia, over 50% of the population is younger than 18
years old. HIV / AIDS has orphaned 18 million children, most
of them are located in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Poetice International provides ongoing, customized, holistic
support to orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia. These
children pictured are some of the orphans and vulnerable
children in Zambia under Poetices care.

14

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Kanyanga. His mother died shortly after giving birth to
him and his name literally means grabbed from death. His
father was murdered when he was in the 4th grade. He then
moved in with his grandparents, who are also caring for his
9 other siblings. Poetice began paying his school fees shortly
after Kanyanga became a double orphan. He is currently
enrolled in secondary school. Read a story about one of the
orphans we support: www.poetice.org/story/kanyanga

15

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Meet Leena. In 1998, she learned that she was HIV-positive.

This shocking news came only a few short months after she
gave birth to her 2 daughters, Miriam and Orient. She decided
very quickly that she wasnt going to remain silent about her
status. Every Friday, she meets with a HIV-postive support
group organized by Poetice International to talk about their
struggles and help reduce stigma. Every day, Leena helps
others like herself live a dignified life. You can read Leenas
story at: www.poetice.org/story/notafraid

16

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

This is Marpeh. She works as a youth outreach worker in

Zambia. She is dedicated to educating young people on the
dangers of HIV, forced labor, abuse and trafficking. As a victim
of abuse herself, she draws from her personal experiences to
help guide young people towards a brighter future.

17

PHOTOGRAPHER: RYAN HUMM | GRAND RAPIDS, MI

This is Obert. He is a double orphan (both his father and
mother have died) and at the age of 16, he is the main
breadwinner for his family. The demands of providing for his
family had made it difficult for him to pay his own school fees.
Poetice International provides Obert with a school
scholarship and helps him with food assistance when needed.
He is now in the 7th grade.

This isn't Latin, but I can sort of read it since

it's greak. Greek is awesome, as long as it
doesn't have to do with Greek Life... That can
get a little dicey. Or so I've heard. Karyl is
going to write an awesome piece here, and then
this Greek will be no more. It does look pretty
spiffy, though, doesn't it? Okay, I'm going to
stop now. Maybe. Okay. And repeat. This isn't
Latin, but I can sort of read it since it's greak.
Greek is awesome, as long as it doesn't have
to do with Greek Life... That can get a little
dicey. Or so I've heard. Karyl is going to write
an awesome piece here, and then this Greek will
be no more. It does look pretty spiffy, though,
doesn't it? Okay, I'm going to stop now. Maybe.
Okay.
- Karyl Morin, Executive Director

INSPIRE CURIOSITY
DEVELOP TALENT
BUILD 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

YOUR GENEROSITY MOVES

THE CREATIVE CONFIDENCE
OF OUR YOUTH FORWARD
CultureWorks is a Holland, MI-based, faith
inspired nonprifit. We need your support.
All donations are tax deductible. To give a
gift, write a check payable to CultureWorks
and mail to us, or give online at:
WWW.CULTUREWORKSICA.COM/DONATE/
CultureWorks makes culturally relevant,
transformational art and design experiences
accessible to youth from all backgrounds.
Without it, I would never
be the confident, creative
individual I am today.
Calin, 10th grade student

Karyl Morin
Executive Director
w 616.393.5013
c 616.990.1178
karyl@cultureworksica.com
www.cultureworksica.com
710 Chicago Dr., Ste. 200
Holland, MI 49423

When told well, stories can inspire a community,

a region, or even a nation to join in what is already
happening. Whether youre an artist, an innovator, a
non-profit, or something in between, your story can
multiply the good. I love being a part of connecting the
north to the south, the east to the west, and creating
common understanding through stories that bridge
geography, demographics, and cultures.
- Ryan Humm, Director and Cinematographer

RYAN HUMM