In March 2018, National Geographic will be funding my photography education project in Northern Ghana with a focus on empowering youth and encouraging environmental awareness and conservation. This project will be conducted with the assistance of Engage Globally, a US based NGO and their Ghanaian partner, Capacity Rural International. These organizations work on community-led education in six rural communities.
The project has four main goals:
1. To share photography and age-appropriate skills with community members including elementary school youth, middle and high school youth, and community leaders including a women’s group.
2. To teach photography through an emphasis on natural resources and conservation. We will participants to photograph the ways in which the land, weather, and natural resources impact their everyday lives.
3. To take the older youth on their first-ever trip, to Mole National Park. This park is used primarily by international tourists, and our trip will enable Ghanaian youth who live less than 90 minutes away to experience Ghana’s wildlife. Here the youth will have the opportunity to photograph their country’s wildlife and natural resources, and to learn how their actions can have a positive impact.
4. To utilize photographs taken to tell stories from the perspective of these community members and youth. I hope these stories will raise awareness about Ghana and the value of youth education and empowerment.
I will be posting photos and blogs of this project in March. In the meantime, follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on the project planning process!