On January 18, 2010 a earthquake devestated much of South Eastern Haiti. The epicenter of the town was located in Leogane, Haiti. As a young Haitian American student in college I remember watching the images playback on the screen unsure of what to do but knowing I needed to find a way to contribute to my motherland.
During the summer of 2011, I was graced with the opportunity to run a photovoice workshop in Leogane. With 30 cameras and a full heart, I joined my friend Kona Shen in Leogane Haiti to work with an amazing organization she started after graduating from college, GOALS Haiti ( goalshaiti.org ). In our first year we worked with 30 youths at 3 different sites. Over the course of the summer they were able to gain a set of skills that would ultimately be the foundation of a campaign to start a scholarship fund for the program. The program aims to empower Haitian youth to both inform the world of their plight and to create a brighter future for their communities.
In the second year of the Foto Goals project your contribution will go towards:
- Cameras for use by the particpants in the photo voice workshop
- Resources to hold a end of workshop exhibit for participants and their families
- Partially defraying the cost of food and transportation for myself and the participants
- Supporting the end of summer 2012 Scholarship fund kick-off currently being planned by Jade Lee of Jadeleeinc.com
What We Need
Needs:
10 Cameras @ $50 each = $500
Photo Paper/Portable Photo Printer/Batteries = $300
Transportation costs = $200
End of Summer Fundraising Events Budget = $500
What You Get
$10 - One of a Kind...From Us to You - Score your own one of a kind postcard with artwork created by our workshop participants
$50 - Wait what does that button do? - Ever wonder what a button does on your camera? Or how someone shot a particular type of picture? Want a bit more control over the shots that your camera produces? Well for $50 receive a basic 1 hour introduction to photography and the main functions of your particular camera. (this ones endlessly expandable...Feel like you want more time with me delving into the inner workings of a camera? get multiple packages)
$100 - Headshots Galore - Need a professional headshot? We'll spend up to 2 hours together capturing the essense of who you are in a photograph! (ONLY AVAILABLE IN SELECT AREAS - GEORGIA,NJ, NY, and BOSTON area)
$300 - 1000 Words - They say a picture is worth a thousand words...Get your own personal art piece from my travels in Haiti. Any works provided as part of this prize will never be reproduced again for any other individual.
$500 - Personal Paparazi - I could never be your personal trainer but for three hours I will be your own personal paparazi capturing for posterity any event you wish to remember. Great for Parties, Anniverseries, or even a simple day relaxing.
The Impact
By supporting this project you will ensure that GOALS HAITI is able to provide a meaningful experience to its emerging leaders. The workshop participants, every one of whom has been identified by GOALS leadership as an emerging leader in their communities, gain a powerful outlet for their collective voices. These future leaders are not only given a medium through which they can share their powerful stories, they also gain a active role in ensuring their academic future through the scholarship fund.
Other Ways You Can Help
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