Saying farewell to The Yida Photography Exhibit
Today we retire one of the most successful Sudanese storytelling projects Operation Broken Silence has ever crafted: The Yida Photography Exhibit. We cannot put into words our gratitude for all of you who joined our mission after experiencing this exhibit.
We began dreaming up this project in the Summer of 2016. Our goal was to create a traveling exhibit that immersed viewers into one of the primary refugee camps for Sudanese people who had fled their country. With the help of dozens of supporters and their top-notch creativity, this stunning story came to life.
This exhibit put faces, culture, and experiences into the crisis stats people see on the news. It shined a bright light on the dignity and resilience of the Nuba people of Sudan in the face of a dehumanizing conflict.
A Story Like No Other
The Yida Photography Exhibit was designed and built over several months in 2016-2017. It was an ambitious undertaking from the beginning. As a traveling storytelling project, it needed to be easy to setup and break down, fit in the back of a single moving truck, and be highly customizable to fit a variety of spaces.
We leaned into the ingenuity of the Sudanese people themselves to do this. Display places were inspired by actual, physical locations in Yida Refugee Camp and handcrafted to match the aesthetic as closely as possible. Materials like metal framing, stained wood, crepe myrtle branches, and barbless barbed wire were donated or purchased. Each display piece was designed and custom-made for the photos they would serve as the backdrop for.
The 313 breathtaking images placed in the exhibit were hand-selected from a collection of 4,535 photos taken by three of our photographers in Yida Refugee Camp: Katie Barber, Jacob Geyer, and Mark Hackett. Photos were curated into various sections that examined what it means to be a Sudanese refugee, Nuba culture, and questions about Sudan’s uncertain future.
The final result was an exhibit that exceeded our expectations. Viewers talked, cried, and found hope in the story. Some people were so captivated by what they say that they would stand motionless or sit on the floor as they processed it all. Countless people invited friends and eagerly jumped into our mission as volunteers, donors, and fundraisers. This special project captured the resilience, somberness, and strength of the people we serve in a way we did not expect. It also brought together people of all different ages, faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds into our mission.
Final Results
The Yida Photography Exhibit cost $6,775 to build. Costs were driven down by more than 60% thanks to donated materials and labor. When we shared our vision with people who could help bring this story to life, most all jumped at the opportunity.
6,263 people were introduced to the crisis in Sudan and the people Operation Broken Silence serves through the exhibit. We can trace $104,500 in direct giving and fundraising to showings. The amount of money raised greatly exceeds that as some supporters have continued to give annually, fundraised multiple times, come to other events, and started giving monthly. Over the past several years, these funds have been invested into the amazing teachers and students at the Endure Primary and Renewal Secondary Schools in Yida Refugee Camp.
Any nonprofit would be thrilled with results like these. We certainly are, but we’re mostly just grateful. For our Sudanese partners. For the folks who helped bring this story to life. For the supporters and friends we’ve made along the way. For the opportunity to tell a difficult, but amazing story. It’s easy to point at the numbers and claim success! It’s much harder to quantify the countless conversations, words of encouragements, questions, and friendships that were born in this exhibit. Concrete numbers are certainly important, but our organization exists first and foremost to bring a diversity of people together to help others.
You may be asking “If this exhibit is so powerful then why retire it? Why not keep going?”
Sudan and Yida Refugee Camp are very different places today than they were when this project was made. The exhibit would need major updating to stay true to the story. Our organization has also changed a lot over the past few years. We are still finding our footing in this ever-changing, post-pandemic world. Our sense is that it’s better to close this chapter on a high note to make space for what comes next. The story of Sudan is not over yet, but one of the ways we have been telling it is. Some good things come to an end.
The good news is that small parts of the exhibit will live on. We’re keeping all of the photos and a few display pieces to be used at our annual events, private fundraisers, and brand partnership opportunities. You’ll still see them popping up around Memphis from time to time.
Thank you again for being a part of this story. Our friends in Sudan have benefited from your compassion and we are personally encouraged by all of you. The mission to discover a brighter future in Sudan continues. We invite you to recommit to our Sudanese partners alongside of us.
Get Involved
Operation Broken Silence has been working next to our Sudanese partners on the ground for over a decade. Our mission has always been focused on the long run, which is why empowering local solutions in the oppressed Nuba Mountains region is our top priority.
Supporting local teachers like Chana makes all the difference for students in Yida Refugee Camp. The fastest way to empower them is to make a quick one-time donation online, or setup a small monthly gift to help provide them the consistent support they need. A generous private donor is matching all donations, up to $15,000 total. Give now to double your impact.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP
Start a fundraising page and ask friends and family to give
Make a check payable to Operation Broken Silence and mail it to P.O. Box 770900 Memphis, TN 38177-0900
Operation Broken Silence is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record.
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