Seeing Life Differently in 2011
December 14, 2011 in enews
This year includes many highlights, including our first-ever fundraiser in downtown Indianapolis, where we raised close to $6000 for new cameras! New international models were started in India and Cambodia, while the South African model continues to expand. We are excited to see our models here in Indianapolis continue to grow as well. I also had the opportunity of co-presenting The Viewfinder Project alongside Heidi Lyda from the LYN House at the national CCDA conference held here in Indianapolis.
We are excited about the continued impact and expansion of The Viewfinder Project and look forward to future expansion. Because of this, you are going to start seeing more emails, sharing more of the stories, the work and the lives impacted by The Viewfinder Project. We hope that you will not only take time to read about them, but also share them with your friends, family and colleagues. This is a quick and easy way you can help us help more children to “see life differently.”
Or, please make a check out to “The Viewfinder Project” and send it to The Viewfinder Project, 6900 S. Gray Road, Indianapolis, IN 46237.
Thank you for your help through your support of our mission. We could not do all this if it wasn’t for people sharing the story and the images that have been captured through The Viewfinder Project programs. We are truly encouraged by your involvement and look forward to sharing more stories throughout 2012.
Happy Holidays!
MaryBeth Jackson
Director, The Viewfinder Project
P.S. We have just launched a product store. Please check out The Viewfinder Project wear; one more way to support the TVP mission.
How Can You Help?We are looking for partners.
Here are some options:
1. Sponsor a student $25
2. Buy a Camera $100
3. Sponsor a program $150
4. Start a program in your school, neighborhood, church or other organization
5. Buy TVP products at our NEW Store.
We welcome donations using Paypal
or by making a check out to
“The Viewfinder Project” and sending it to The Viewfinder Project, 6900 S. Gray Road,
Indianapolis, IN 46237.
TVP in Cambodia
One of our volunteers shared this story from one of her first classes in Cambodia: (To see photos from Cambodia, visit daughtersphotography.tumblr.com.)
“When asking the girls who has ever used a camera, a number of girls in my first class shared stories about only having used cameras once or twice when someone asked them to take a picture for them. This brought up a great conversation about choice, how in their experience they had no choice on what to take a picture of or how to take it, but in this class and in life they do have choices on what to focus on. The girls were already so excited to use cameras but you could just see how they were even more empowered when they realized they could express their own choices! It was an energy-filled moment!”
The Lyn House Continues its Impact
Another incredible story came from a program here in Indianapolis through the LYN House* (www.lynhouse.org).
Last year a local artist, Tim, came to our photography show. Moved by Alison’s favorite photo, he asked if he could paint a version of her photo. She agreed and the impact was passed from Alison to Tim and then to a woman from Oregon who saw the painting and was given it by a friend. The gift was to celebrate her one-month sobriety with Alcoholics Anonymous. Tim titled it “Door of Hope.” The woman has kept in touch with Tim and shared that every day that painting brings her hope as she struggles to stay sober.
Alison would tell you that it was sometimes difficult for her to look for beauty in a place that was filled with so many painful memories. But it not only helped her discover some healing but now it is helping someone else find healing. You can see Alison’s photo at the right of this letter.
* We have changed the names of individuals to respect their privacy.
