Saturday, March 1, 2008

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 Kitcontains 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 Workshopto 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 Exhibitionto 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 Exchangeto 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 Exhibitionto 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!

No comments: