Ahecha Paraguay Youth Photography Project Launched

Check out a few of our first project photos via our new Flickr account. Click on following link to enter: Ahecha Paraguay Flickr Page

Ahecha Paraguay Project Snapshot

Project Goals: Promote personal development and develop critical/creative thinking in Paraguayan youth via photography instruction; Build local, inter-community and national awareness of participants’ work via exchanges and exhibitions

PCV Responsibilities:
Note: PCV must have been in site a minimum of 6 months before able to participate

Minimum number of PCV trips to Asunción required over 3-7 month period: FOUR
[1) Check out kit; 2) return kit and make exhibition prints; 3) submit exhibition prints for exchange + pick up exchange prints; 4) return exchange prints + prep for Final Exhibition]

Camera Kit – contains 5 digital cameras, accessories and resource manual for Photography Instruction Workshop
Ø Fill out a request form to check out camera kit for period of 45 days (extended from 30 days) and turn it in to the Ahecha PY admin binder located in the Coordinators´ office at the PCO
Ø PCV alone assumes responsibility for all losses and damages to camera kit contents between check-out and check-in dates
Ø After the Photography Instruction Workshop, return the camera kit intact along with completed participant consent and evaluation forms to the PCO

Photography Instruction Workshop – to teach participants basic photography techniques and create opportunities to take photographs in their communities
Ø Find Paraguayan counterpart and/or counterpart organization to co-run workshop (highly recommended)
Ø Select participants that you know well, taking camera equipment liability into account
Ø Hold a minimum of 15 hours of instruction within 45 days - highly recommended to begin workshop BEFORE receiving camera kit with “way of seeing” and other related creativity development activities

In-Site Exhibition – to display participants’ work in a local space and gain community interest
Ø Should be held within 10 days of camera kit return date (keep time frame in mind as In-Site Exhibition prints will be used in the Exhibition Exchange)
Ø Select a public location that is in or near community (school, library, Casa de Cultura, Cooperative, Muni, etc) and make all necessary arrangements

Ø Select and print photographs to be displayed in the exhibition
*Project funds pay for prints-all other materials must come from the community (i.e. fundraiser, local sponsorship, workshop fee, exhibit admission)*

*Refer to Kodak Printing Partnership handout included in camera kit for specific details*

Exhibition Exchange – to connect participating communities and involve participants in photography editing process

Ø After exhibition is held, coordinate with other Volunteers in your team (same checkout period) to exchange copies of exhibition photographs for Exhibition Exchange

Ø Reconvene original workshop participants for a photography critique workshop or informal review of partner community photographs – goal: to select the best images to display in the Final Exhibition series in Asunción

Ø Return partner community’s photographs along with completed form listing selected Final Exhibition photographs to Ahecha PY admin binder

Ø Must be completed before July 15th, 2008 (does not apply to June 15 checkout date Volunteer facilitators).

Final Exhibition – to bring together selected photographs from all participating communities and expose the public at large to the project via a series of formal exhibitions (confirmed at CCPA in Asunción for the following dates: July 31 - August 15, 2008; other locations in development)

Ø Help with organization of exhibition, or at the very least provide exhibition organizers with community and participant description(s) to accompany selected photograph(s)

Seem like a lot of responsibility? That’s how we define commitment to creativity development in youth in Paraguay!