While some of us were working on building a house, others were busy working with El Sunza’s youth on a project we’ve named (quite unoriginally) Foto Voz (photo voice).
The idea of the project was to put cameras in the hands of village kids – to give them a medium and voice through which to capture and explain their world. Each kid was paired with one of us and taught how to use a camera, different styles of photography, basics such as framing a shot, choosing the best light, etc. Then we had the kids guide us through a tour of their community, taking us to their favorite hideouts, their homes, their school, the market, the surrounding fields and hills. Along the way there would be dialogue about what each place meant and how to best capture the scene or the shot. Over several days about 10 different kids shot a combined 18 rolls of film. Through the process, we got to know them, their families, and their community better. Not only did the village come alive for us, but we believe the kids also began to see their daily environment in new ways – the beauty of a tree they pass everyday, the contrast between an abandoned factory and the lush green surrounding it, an incredible view of coffee and cane fields, or the subtle wonder surrounding the activities of their neighbors.
In early October, People Not Profit and Progress Coffee, our friends and funders of the project, will present the Foto Voz Gallery, where the photography of El Sunza’s youth will be available for viewing and purchase. All proceeds will go toward funding similar future projects in El Salvador. Stay tuned for more details.
People not profit 