Carlos a local Nicaraguan has been teaching music at the school the past few years. He emparts his gift onto the children, who orchestrated a full scale musical for the final presentation night.... beating jungle drums, pied piper fluting and sweet little Spanish voices.
Five weeks, 5 teachers, 4 lead volunteers and 10 assistant volunteers, The Yin Yang Creative Arts Program educated students of the BPP in photography, poetry, contemporary dance, theatre, puppetry, zinemaking and found object installation. Volunteers from across the globe contributed in a month long workshop concluding in a final presentation evening at the school.
I volunteered with photography, teaching and wrangling 2 ninos for the night photography cirriculum. Each night we had a different theme to interpret, with the grand finale a showcase of each child's favourite 5 and top photograph overall.
Now I know what it feels like to be a proud parent.
After 5 weeks of intensive art education the students put on an impressive show stopping presentation in front of over 250 family and community members. The workshop theme was Yin & Yang. Each class presented their interpretation of balance in life's opposing forces.
The final photography showcase weaved together with spanish guitar literally silenced the audience. There's something so breathtakingly moving and raw about viewing the world through children's eyes.
These kids from the Barrios have talent.
Some now even consider photography as something they want to be when they grow up.
I'm overjoyed to have been a part of getting young creative juices flowing and showing these kids they can achieve whatever they want, they just have to give it a go.
View the photography showreel here
View the photography showreel here
The following images a small selection from my kids Israel and Fatima...
Photography by Fatima 15yo
Photography by Israel 13yo
