An idea that started in Bangkok, Thailand and has now grown into a creative and inspiring photography project.
Pam from Spunky Girl Monologues traveled through Thailand in 2010 and came into contact with Dwight Turner. Dwight is the man behind a grass-roots project called “In Search of Sanuk.” While visiting Thailand, Pam started working with Dwight, and discovered a new side of Bangkok.
One of the projects that Pam volunteered for included a Saturday English class that was taught to the street kids. After the classes the children would run around and interact with the volunteers. Pam soon showed a child how to take a photograph on her camera and phone. The child soon ran off with the camera and started to take pictures.
When the children returned with the camera and phone, Pam discovered that some of the pictures were actually quite good. Pam talks about what she found in the photographs:
“Children (unlike many adults) have the ability to capture/evoke emotion. Adults usually open up their emotions around a child, and those emotions were clearly displayed in the photographs they captured that day. None of their photos were staged. They were simply given a camera, taught how to use it in the most basic way and sent off to run around and have fun.”
In October 2011 Pam is returning to Bangkok to start the Photolanthrophy project. She will be visiting the children she met during her 2010 trip with 20 point and shoot cameras. Each child will be shown how to use a camera, and they will have the opportunity to snap photos around their local communities.
This project is designed to help raise awareness of a global community and to gain understanding of the people we share this world with. The children will not only have the chance to learn the art of photography, but they will be making works of art that will benefit their personal development as well. This project will also help give aid to the local communities with food, clothing, and rent.
If you would like to donate to the Photolanthrophy fund visit the indiegogo site here. To learn more about this project please visit the Photolanthrophy website. Or show them some love and “like” them on facebook or follow the twitter account @photolanthrophy.
Thanks for reading,
DreamTravelerJess
Filed under: hope.
