CARACAS, VENEZUELA
100CAMERAS X 100 POR CIENTO SAN AGUSTÍN
100cameras X 100 Por Ciento San Agustín is a part of a 8 class course that is custom designed by 100cameras to equip passionate creatives with the tools to empower youth in a community they care about with the opportunity to learn how to process their stories and create change. Pictured here are 100cameras students during the course.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
100cameras X 100 Por Ciento San Agustín took place in Caracas, Venezuela in partnership with 100% San Agustín Foundation, founded and directed by Reinaldo Mijares in 2019 to promote art, music, cinema and tourism in the community of San Agustín del Sur, showing its most rooted traditions. The organization’s initiative is one that conceptualizes, produces and promotes cultural activities that raise the quality of life of the community.
This program was possible with the support of Espacio Anna Frank, a local, non-profit organization that seeks to bring the principles of coexistence and respect to students in schools, educating the children and young adults about the consequences of intolerance in societies. By working to promote the practice of coexistence among the different social groups in Venezuela - without distinction of creed, ethnic origin, education or economic position - the organization cultivates principles such as healthy coexistence, respect for those who are different, and encouragement of moral bravery. This program partnership is a representation of their team’s commitment to establish alliances with other like-minded institutions. For this program, Espacio Anna Frank allied with photographer Guillermo Suarez, co founder of Ghetto Photo as program educator and supporter for the continuity of the photography activities in 100% San Agustin.
“This community was chosen because of the cultural tradition it promotes. The young participants all have this background now as a fertile soil to create something from all they are learning in this program. This program represents an opportunity to become an active part of the community in registering all that happens in 100 Por Ciento San Agustín.”
As expressed by Local Photographer and Program Ecucator, Elizabeth Schummer, “Our organization promotes Coexistence thru respect towards the differences, recognition of the other and individual and collective responsibility. This program goes hand in hand with our values, and teaching to express themselves thru image, and, as Anne Frank did, through words. By allowing these kids to connect with their community and with the shared values, they will become agents of change.”
“We learned to take pictures not only with our hands but with our hearts and our mind, with feeling, not taking it just for taking it, but to feel it. To see beyond the picture, what it can express.”
The students leaned in with care, thoughtfulness, and perseverance. “They got confident very quickly and really from the second class on they were very open, very honest and felt very comfortable doing the program. I think from the composition class onwards, it was a turning point for them. They really internalized what the point of view meant and how important it was to try to accommodate what was important to them into the frame. They kept this idea very close throughout the course. At the Map My Story activity, the least expected student, the one more irreverent, was exactly the one whose tears almost came up remembering when his grandmother passed. He showed a lot of vulnerability. Also another student told us she was very insecure some time ago, and with the program she felt she could express herself freely,” reflects Schummer. Through this experience, see and celebrate their perspectives!
“This program has represented a brilliant opportunity to open the minds of these youngsters, to slow down and see their surroundings with a different perspective, the have developed a deep sensibility towards their neighborhood and the possibilities of photography and written narratives as a tool to tell stories and become the future chronists of San Agustin and the cultural roots in dance, music, tambores, teacher and more recently cinema.”
MEET THE STUDENTS
“When we reviewed the portraits exercise by seeing each other’s portraits, the common feeling was that they all directed their portraits towards expressing self esteem, determination and character. And when I asked how they saw themselves, all of them felt important and valued, that it was a very good experience.”
ABOUT THE PROGRAM LEADERS
Elizabeth Schummer. With a Masters in Oral Surgery from UCV/NYU and a now retired Oral surgeon of thirty years, Elizabeth moved into photography as a way to see everything that surrounds her in a different way. She is the Photography Programs Director and Cultural Promoter for Espacio Anna Frank and has studied at CIEFVE Caracas Venezuela and Master PhotoEspaña 2021. Elizabeth has been a co-curator in different photography exhibitions, her work has been published in different digital magazines, and she has been part of Collective Exhibits in Caracas and Madrid as well as Authored the photobook, Mirada Inversa, Caracas, 2022.
Guillermo Suárez. Photojournalist for several media in the last 24 years and trained in photography with the Master Luis Brito . Documentary and Photojournalism teacher. Co-founder and chief Editor of Ghetto Photo.
STUDENT IMAGE GALLERY
“I like very much the experience of capturing in images the things I like and being able to share them with other people. It is a new way to communicate with others.”
Follow us on social media to see images from the field as captured by the 100cameras X 100 Por Ciento San Agustín team and the student photographers.