Lily Shafferecuador 2011
Kids with Cameras Published on March 10, 2011
During my first two months at Pastoral Migratoria, I worked on the Refuerzo project, an after school program for Colombian and Ecuadorian students, ages six to twelve. Spending several days a week with them teaching yoga, English, and math, as well as tutoring in what ever subjects they needed helped with, I developed close relationships with many of the students. [slidepress gallery='kids_with_cameras_revised'] These photos are from the first assignment where the students went out in groups to learn how to use the cameras. Please scroll over the images for titles and captions.
I began to hear stories of watching uncles murdered in Colombia by the FARC just before fleeing the country. I cleaned out playground wounds. I received snippets of what it’s like to be an eleven year old in the first grade because Ecuador was the first place school was available. I had twenty five joyous tour guides bring me to las Incas, a secret hill close to work that has a panoramic view of the entire city.
Pastoral focuses on supporting adults and children under four. Of course, consequently, this supports families, but I started becoming more interested in what the lives of young refugees are like–how they see the world, what they hope to become, how immigrating and the drug war has effected them.
During the Christmas party last December, many of the kids asked to use my camera. Reluctantly, I handed over my baby. Not only were they incredibly respectful–keep the strap around your neck, don’t touch the lens, don’t grab from each other–the photos they were taking were beautiful.
Now, as March begins, Kids with Cameras was born.
Kids with Cameras is a photo philanthropy project I’ve created with young Colombian refugees at my work in Pastoral Migratoria de Ibarra. The project gives ten refugees between the ages of six and twelve a camera for 24 hours. During the 24 hours, the students document their lives through photos and writing, focusing on the parts of their lives that have a large impact on the aspects of their identities that we can’t see. For them, it’s a fun after school program and, for most, the first time they’ve ever used a camera. For me, and for my team at Pastoral, it’s a chance to empower the youth and tell them, in spite of the xenophobia they face daily, their lives are important. It’s a glimpse into the lives of young refugees from their point of view.
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Lily, I always enjoy your posts and have come to look forward to them. “Suck it up and eat the pig” was a hoot, “Welcome to to the war” was a heartbreak, and “It’s about changing myself” was flat-out brilliant. This post offers me a chance to “give back” a tiny bit by telling you you have to watch the documentary “Born into Brothels” about giving cameras to kids in the poorest slums of India. Thanks, Lily, for writing. (That’s enough with the jumping from bridges, though, OK?)
Response shared by Jan Stivers — March 11, 2011 @ 12:33 pm
Good morning Lils,
It feels really good. And it is so great to have all these rich posting from you to catch up on. I am that you were able to get Kids w/ Cameras off the ground. As we spoke about it months ago, you will find there are many organizations and private projects running on a similar premise. I am of the opinion that great ideas don’t simply come to one person at one time. Know that you are part of a much larger movement and a healthy reform in anthropology; one that has acknowledged that it is time to put the camera into the hands of the people who are too often made subject of our photographs –or otherwise unseen. I will be sure to write again after reading you more. Much love from (a confused) Vermont of ice and rain.
For the next week I don’t have any classes and finally the opportunity to step away from a lot of work and drop in to the greater picture. Phew…
Response shared by Levi Gershkowitz — March 11, 2011 @ 1:06 pm
Wonderful start with your project.
After seeing the kids at Pastoral Migratoria first hand, watching them eagerly enjoy having their own pictures taken, and then their giddy response when they saw their own image, I think many of the kids have a sense of what a camera is capable of communicating. Even the youngest kids posed, changed expressions, called for friends to join them, and generally, it seemed to me, in anticipation, wanted to structure how someone captured a moment in their time. They loved holding and touching my camera and many of the kids asked to reverse the role and take my photo.
I hope the images you collect ads to the depth of your experience working at Pastoral Migratoria. I also hope you are able to produce a finished project that inevitably helps the kids and families with whom you work.
Good luck and ENJOY your last two months.
Response shared by Rick Shaffer — March 11, 2011 @ 1:46 pm
You keep reminding me of what a difference we all can make, everyone of us. We just have to stay involved and often put ourselves aside. I love this project. Hungry for more images.
Response shared by Rebecca — March 11, 2011 @ 2:23 pm
Lily! What a wonderful project and I absolutely love the photos! Are you still in the Colombia or Ecuador? My son and I are currently in Colombia and traveling next to Ecuador. Wondering if we could come meet you, visit the project and volunteer. You can get more info on us here: http://www.raisingmiro.com We would really love to help and participate. We’ve volunteered through Central & now we are in South America. Please let us know how we can participate.
Response shared by ilainie — March 11, 2011 @ 3:37 pm
Lily,
What a great project. You should be proud of your part in developing and organizing it. Although coming home is just a short time away, I can just imagine all of the things you will want to accomplish before you leave. I hope you are keeping a book (electronic or otherwise) of your posts, the comments back, and all of your experiences. As I said in an earlier post, you should write a book about this experience. I hope to see you at some point after you return. Love, Sharon
Response shared by Rssolomon — March 17, 2011 @ 12:24 am
Hey Lily,
This sounds like a great project! It’s really great how you can incorporate your interest for photography into a project. If people could find little ways to use their interests philanthropically, I think we’d have a much improved world. I’m going to be doing Global Citizen next year, and it’s always exciting to hear what you guys are doing. From what I’ve read, it sounds like you’ve had a very successful year! Thanks!
Response shared by Tessalyn — April 26, 2011 @ 12:14 am
Thanks so much! Yeah, it was an amazing project…let me know if you have any questions about GCY, I’d be happy to answer!
Response shared by Lily Shaffer — May 17, 2011 @ 4:52 pm