(photographed by Liz)
Gustavo and Wilson held the camera very still as they filmed the white wall of the dining room. A very confused Chris watched them and inquired, “Um, what are you doing?”
“White balancing,” was the matter-of-fact reply as they finished and turned the camera to the eating students.
Earlier that morning as we were interviewing a few of the girls working in the yucca fields, a steady trickle of students had come to stand behind the camera, curious about how it all worked. When the interview was over, Fatima and Lan, noting their interest, explained a little about filming to the group and we turned the camera over to two of the students and let them go. Gustavo and Wilson set off to film their friends in the fields, the kitchen, the chicken coops and even went inside the boys’ dormitories (a place our otherwise fearless camera girls couldn’t venture).
After lunch the boys came over to review the footage they had shot and it was really impressive how still they had held the camera and how many really good shots they had captured (it was way better than I could have done, wait… actually, they’ve never even let me hold the camera!) The bell rang for them to go back to work and as they were leaving they asked if we could teach a photography or film class before we left the school. We, of course, happily agreed.
Before today we had been toying with the idea of fundraising back home to buy the students some cameras and equipment but now we are pretty much convinced that it is necessary. While the school is an amazing technical, agricultural school, there are few outlets or resources for creative expression. After talking with the directors, the consensus is that if we provide the cameras, the school will provide the teachers and the class.
The idea is that providing cameras and equipment to the students will add another facet of self-sustainability to the school. Students can use the film equipment to make their own films about Paraguayan economy, agriculture, their families, their friends or their farms. It can be used to make instructional, educational videos for the school or sold to outside parties. Eventually, using the equipment they are given will generate enough income to expand and buy more equipment, which means more education and more profit.
Now all we have to do is raise the money for the cameras!
-Jamie