Donors Choose Challenge: Life Through a Lens

lauriewrites — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:57:45 -0500

Photography changed my life. My first photography teacher told us that photographs give us the most accurate record of our lives, and I believe this more and more the longer I devote myself to picture-taking. This is why I love looking at other peoples' photographs as much as taking my own, and I especially love to see young people excited about photography. So when the opportunity arose to join my fellow BlogHer contributors in the 2008 Donors Choose.org Bloggers' Challenge, specifically to support putting cameras in the hands of young people to help them tell their stories, I was immediately on board.

The Life Through a Lens project in Mr. Russo's classroom was just what I wanted to support. His proposal was solid and detailed. He had obviously put a lot of thought and care into the project. Also, he was close to home in case he allowed me to come and take pictures of the kids.

Mr. R teaches middle school art to what he says are "at-risk students" in a high poverty traditional Maryland middle school. Here's how he explains what they need:

We need cameras! We need beginner, but high quality cameras to get
the ball rolling. Our students love to photograph and be photographed,
and this gift will help make that happen. We want our students to know,
not only that this technology is within their reach, but also how to
use it give them voices that many people will hear.

Your help
will bring us one step closer to empowering to students with that
voice. We at this school think that the time is now to help guide these
students into a culturally rich and fulfilling life. We want our
students to show the world through their pictures what life here means
and what being at this school, at this time is all about.

What do they need? 5 easy-to-use, reliable digital cameras, for a total of $850.

Easy peasy.

You can donate on the Donors Choose site, and see the other projects BlogHer editors are sponsoring here. Mr. R says,

Resources are slim here, but we truly want to provide the richest
educational and art experiences possible. We believe our students
deserve all of the best.

That's the truth. Again, says Mr. R.,

"We want our
students to show the world through their pictures what life here means
and what being at this school, at this time is all about."

Powerful stuff. I hope we can help them tell the world what life there means.

Meanwhile, for some inspiration to check out:

Photographer Marcia Tumminaro just started teacing photography classes at her child's school.

Amazing story of UNICEF's effort to bring cameras to kids in South Africa, some of whom were seeing cameras for the first time in their lives.

Teaching Digital Photography: Showing Young People How to See With the Camera's Eye.

Maryland-based Vision Workshops provides photography camps and extended learning opportunities in communities around the world.

Laurie White writes at LaurieWrites, and posts thousands of photos on Flickr.

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Donors Choose Challenge: Life Through a Lens