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SNAPPED: Farhiyo Ahmed Abdullah with her photo. JASON OXENHAM/Central Leader

Young photographer captures a striking shot

The I Have A Dream project at Wesley Primary snapped up a couple of notable credits in a recent citywide photographic competition.

Brought to New Zealand in 2003 by Kiwi businessman Scott Gilmour, the American-based project offers underprivileged youngsters a four-year tertiary scholarship if they complete high school.

It is big on motivation and on exposing children to cultural and educational experiences they wouldn't otherwise have.

The Wesley students spent a recent Saturday being escorted around photographic exhibitions in the inner city before snapping their own shots on digital cameras.

Project coordinator Antony Backhouse entered the images in the Auckland City Council Photo Day competition, which is open to all ages.

Ten-year-old Farhiyo Ahmed Abdullah was placed in the top six for her shot of friend Mosa'ati Mafileo standing next to a couple of punks in Queen St.

Fellow student, 11-year-old Siaosi Pohahau, made the top 30 with his photograph of friends ambling along Queen St beside a Hari Krishna parade.

Farhiyo says the best thing about the scheme is getting to take a computer home. All the students have secondhand machines donated by local companies or bought from project funds.

One of the goals displayed on posters taped to the Wesley classroom ceiling is "to become a computer whizz-kid".