Please contribute to the Ahecha Paraguay Project!
Deadline ASAP.... https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=526-194
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saludos, Update and an Opportunity to Participate! (what more could you ask for?)
Things are good in
Paraguay, I have started the final count down and have about seven
weeks left! My close of service date is August 14th! (see very bottom
of the email for post COS plans) Wow! Time has flown by! Things have
turned colder and a bit rainy - which is very much welcomed after the
brutal summer heat! (I just have a disgustingly large pile of dirty
clothes that are waiting for a sunny day)
To give you a little update I wanted to tell you about one of the
biggest projects I have worked on during my time in Paraguay, it is
youth photography project called Ahecha Paraguay, which means, “I see
Paraguay” in the native language of Guaraní. I have been working on
Ahecha since the it’s conception in 2008. The project consists of five
camera kits have been loaned to more than 40 communities throughout
the interior of Paraguay. Ahecha provides young Paraguayans access to
digital photography; access that almost none have. The workshops we
teach are designed to be fun and interactive, and provide students the
chance to develop their creativity, self-confidence, and
self-awareness all through the lens of a camera. The project also
includes photo exchanges between communities as a means of fostering
understanding of other communities and pride in one’s own work. Ahecha
Paraguay culminates annually with national exhibition tour of selected
photographs from each participating community.
The inspiration for Ahecha Paraguay came from the film Born into
Brothels, in which the sons and daughters of Calcutta’s red light
district were given cameras and taught the basics of photography.
Through the lenses of cameras these children were able to look at
their lives in a new light, try a new form of creative expression and
raise their self-esteem. Like Born into Brothels, more than 300
Paraguayan youth have participated in Ahecha Paraguay and received
individualized attention from their PCV, developed their creativity,
self-esteem and awareness as well as been empowered the technical
skills they have learned through their participation in the project.
This winter (southern hemisphere style) Ahecha is hosting the Second
Annual National Exhibit Tour in Asuncion, held at the Paraguayan
American Cultural Center, Shopping Villa Morra, United States Embassy,
the Alianza Francias and the Bus Terminal of Asuncion. As the final
element of the Ahecha project cycle the national exhibit provides an
arena for sharing creativity, artwork, and youths abilities from the
interior of the country; while providing an opportunity for the youth
participants to see their work displayed on a national level and gives
them an extreme boost of pride and confidence in their work. In
addition to viewing their work the youth photographers are in Asuncion
they will participate in a daylong workshop focusing on taking their
new knowledge and abilities to the next level and practice ways to use
them in their communities.
(This is where you can participate......)
Due to the fact that most participants come from families with few
resources for extra curricular activities they are only able to pay
for a portion of their trip into Asuncion to see their work displayed
in the Terminal of Asuncion. In order for the youth participants to
have the opportunity to see their work, we need your help!
Interested individuals can directly contribute to projects such as
Ahecha Paraguay through the Peace Corps Partnership Program (please
see instructions below). As a current Peace Corps volunteer living and
working in Paraguay, I can personally attest to the impact you can and
will have if you able to support us.
All donations are tax-deductible, and contributions of all levels are
appreciated. Our goal is to raise $926.27 by July 5, 2007. For project
budget and more information, please visit our blog at
http://cocumu.blogspot.com.
If you are interested and able...this is how to support Ahecha
Paraguay: (please follow the directions listed below)
1. Go to this official Peace Corps Website link (either click on the
link below, or copy and paste it into your browser).
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=526-194
2. If the above link does not work, you can access Ahecha Paraguay via
the Peace Corps website, www.peacecorps.gov. From the Peace Corps
homepage, select “Donate Now,” an option located midway down on the
left-hand side. Next, select “Donate to Volunteer Projects,” located
in the center of the screen. Then, choose Latin America as your
region, Paraguay as your country, and Ahecha Paraguay as your project.
Paraguay, I have started the final count down and have about seven
weeks left! My close of service date is August 14th! (see very bottom
of the email for post COS plans) Wow! Time has flown by! Things have
turned colder and a bit rainy - which is very much welcomed after the
brutal summer heat! (I just have a disgustingly large pile of dirty
clothes that are waiting for a sunny day)
To give you a little update I wanted to tell you about one of the
biggest projects I have worked on during my time in Paraguay, it is
youth photography project called Ahecha Paraguay, which means, “I see
Paraguay” in the native language of Guaraní. I have been working on
Ahecha since the it’s conception in 2008. The project consists of five
camera kits have been loaned to more than 40 communities throughout
the interior of Paraguay. Ahecha provides young Paraguayans access to
digital photography; access that almost none have. The workshops we
teach are designed to be fun and interactive, and provide students the
chance to develop their creativity, self-confidence, and
self-awareness all through the lens of a camera. The project also
includes photo exchanges between communities as a means of fostering
understanding of other communities and pride in one’s own work. Ahecha
Paraguay culminates annually with national exhibition tour of selected
photographs from each participating community.
The inspiration for Ahecha Paraguay came from the film Born into
Brothels, in which the sons and daughters of Calcutta’s red light
district were given cameras and taught the basics of photography.
Through the lenses of cameras these children were able to look at
their lives in a new light, try a new form of creative expression and
raise their self-esteem. Like Born into Brothels, more than 300
Paraguayan youth have participated in Ahecha Paraguay and received
individualized attention from their PCV, developed their creativity,
self-esteem and awareness as well as been empowered the technical
skills they have learned through their participation in the project.
This winter (southern hemisphere style) Ahecha is hosting the Second
Annual National Exhibit Tour in Asuncion, held at the Paraguayan
American Cultural Center, Shopping Villa Morra, United States Embassy,
the Alianza Francias and the Bus Terminal of Asuncion. As the final
element of the Ahecha project cycle the national exhibit provides an
arena for sharing creativity, artwork, and youths abilities from the
interior of the country; while providing an opportunity for the youth
participants to see their work displayed on a national level and gives
them an extreme boost of pride and confidence in their work. In
addition to viewing their work the youth photographers are in Asuncion
they will participate in a daylong workshop focusing on taking their
new knowledge and abilities to the next level and practice ways to use
them in their communities.
(This is where you can participate......)
Due to the fact that most participants come from families with few
resources for extra curricular activities they are only able to pay
for a portion of their trip into Asuncion to see their work displayed
in the Terminal of Asuncion. In order for the youth participants to
have the opportunity to see their work, we need your help!
Interested individuals can directly contribute to projects such as
Ahecha Paraguay through the Peace Corps Partnership Program (please
see instructions below). As a current Peace Corps volunteer living and
working in Paraguay, I can personally attest to the impact you can and
will have if you able to support us.
All donations are tax-deductible, and contributions of all levels are
appreciated. Our goal is to raise $926.27 by July 5, 2007. For project
budget and more information, please visit our blog at
http://cocumu.blogspot.com.
If you are interested and able...this is how to support Ahecha
Paraguay: (please follow the directions listed below)
1. Go to this official Peace Corps Website link (either click on the
link below, or copy and paste it into your browser).
https://www.peacecorps.gov/
2. If the above link does not work, you can access Ahecha Paraguay via
the Peace Corps website, www.peacecorps.gov. From the Peace Corps
homepage, select “Donate Now,” an option located midway down on the
left-hand side. Next, select “Donate to Volunteer Projects,” located
in the center of the screen. Then, choose Latin America as your
region, Paraguay as your country, and Ahecha Paraguay as your project.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
