Sharjah 24: At the sixth edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival, which opened today at Expo Centre Sharjah, a poignant image of 10-year-old Hussein enjoying a quiet moment with a book while seated on the edge of a garbage bin demonstrated the astounding power of a single photograph in stirring emotions and effecting positive change.

Hussein, who left Syria with his family to Lebanon, was forced to abandon school to collect rubbish, scrap, and plastic from waste bins in order to feed his family. The little youngster began reading after discovering a book in the litter one day, as if to escape from the realities around him.

It was a photograph taken at this pivotal time by architect Rodrigues Mghames that profoundly changed the boy's life. The snapshot, which was posted on social media platforms, soon went 'viral' and became a topic of discussion on prominent Arabic and international news channels, as it demonstrated Hussein's quest for knowledge and enthusiasm for reading despite his tough circumstances.

Xposure, which is organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), announced today (Wednesday) that Xposure  will support Hussein's education until he graduates from high school in collaboration with The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), a UAE-based international humanitarian organization. The compassionate contribution represents Sharjah's mission of encouraging books and reading for everybody, particularly those in poor circumstances.

This image highlights a central message adopted by Xposure regarding photography's inherent potential as a force for good and its capacity to improve the lives of individuals and communities.

At the festival's opening ceremony, Xposure also recognized engineer Rodrigues Mghames for his role in bringing Hussein's tale to the globe.

Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of the SGMB, commented on the project, saying: "By emphasizing hardship and injustices, photography exposes the world to people's different circumstances, all of which have a profound effect on the viewers. By assisting Hussein, Xposure hopes to send a worldwide message that photography may go beyond observing and documenting reality to become a tool for improving it and a method of exploring solutions to the issues highlighted by photographers."

"This project symbolizes the principles of compassion rooted in the UAE, particularly in Sharjah, to come to the rescue and support of less fortunate individuals," said Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF. This is aligned with TBHF's core objective of protecting and empowering vulnerable children and their families worldwide. We feel that information and education are critical for transforming people's life and hope to contribute to Hussein's reading passion. TBHF will assure him access to school through Xposure, which is providing an encouraging example of how creative events and festivals can benefit humanitarian causes in partnership with our partners in Lebanon."

Rodrigues Mghames, for his part, lauded Xposure's effort, saying how he had approached numerous charitable and humanitarian organizations to assist in funding Hussein's schooling and family assistance. Mghames noted that Sharjah's charity initiatives are noticeable in a number of conflict-torn nations and communities across the world. He continued by stating that Xposure's action exemplifies the manifestation of art's significance and emphasized its role in elevating mankind.