The Viewfinder Project

Happy New Year

brookskat — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:45:22 +0000

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.

We are so excited about all that 2012 has in-store for The Viewfinder Project. We already have new groups locally and internationally planning for 2012 classes. As we anticipate their commencement we wanted to share some of the great photographs that have come out of TVP classes. These photos represent so much more than the eye can see. We are so honored to help people “see life differently” and to share images that capture this transformation.

Thank you so much for your support and involvement in The Viewfinder project. If you would like to bring TVP to your community or if you would like more information about other ways to get involved please email Katherine Brooks at info@theviewfinderproject.org.

Be watching for more stories and images of what “seeing life differently” looks like for each new class.

Seeing Life Differently in 2011

mbhabecker — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:49:54 +0000

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.”

Donations are welcome using Paypal:

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.

Fundraiser – Picture This

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:01:47 +0000

Come and see some examples of student work and talk to individuals who have run The Viewfinder Project in their own organizations around our city. Learn more about The Viewfinder Project and how you can get involved. Our goal is to raise enough money for 75 new point-and-shoot cameras for projects here and around the world. We hope to see you there!

Thursday, May 12, 2011 • 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Creation Café (parking map)

337 West 11th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

cover charge

$10 includes wine tasting, appetizers, and live music with proceeds going to The Viewfinder Project

Live music by Tad Armstrong & Brian Deer (www.myspace.com/tadarmstrong)
Kids are welcome! Casual dress.

enter the raffle

We will also have a raffle where you can purchase tickets for $10 each or 5 for $40. Raffle items include:
one new Nikon Coolpix S9100 digital camera
one photo session & print from Kiera Photo (www.kieraphoto.com)
one photo session & print from Blue Candy Photography (www.bluecandyphotography.com)
one-hour massage at The Breathing Room
a painting by Kyle Ragsdale (www.kyleragsdale.com)
a framed 8×10 student photo
a gift basket from Creation Café
a gift basket from Euphoria
a gourmet package from Just Pop In!

We just received confirmation that Flat12 Bierwerks (www.flat12.me) is donating a keg of beer to the event! All proceeds from the sale of THE DESIGNATED BEER will go directly back to The Viewfinder Project (sales are cash-only)!! The beer should be either their American Wit or Half Cycle IPA.

The fundraiser will take place on the Creation Café patio with our rain location simply being inside. When you arrive, please find our welcome table where you can sign in, pay your $10 cover charge, and receive your ticket for the wine tasting as well as the coupon you will give to your server should you decide to stay for dinner. (We will also be able to tell you which Flat12 beer will be part of the fundraiser.)

rsvp at info@theviewfinderproject.org

Stay for dinner at Creation Café and mention The Viewfinder Project; 10% of your total bill will go back to The Viewfinder Project!

Current Exhibitions

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:25:15 +0000

Our partners in South Africa had an exhibition of student work at the end of October 2010 in the township of Kayamandi. Students ranged in age from 16-20 years. Check it out: www.julielimblog.com/kiki-photo-exhibition

Current Models

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:51:18 +0000

Kuyasa Empowerment – Stellenbosch, South Africa
http://www.kuyasa-empowerment.org
Status: Ongoing
Ages taught: Middle school, high school
Wish List: 10 memory cards, projector
Approximate Cost: $40/memory card, $2,000 (projector)
TOTAL COSTS: $2,400

LYN House
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
lynhouse.org
Status: Ongoing
Ages taught: High school
Wish List: 10 small camera cases, photo printer/paper/ink, printing/matting costs for upcoming exhibition, art rail system
Approximate Cost: $10/camera case, $400 (printer, paper, ink), $300 (printing/matting for exhibition), $200(art rail system)
TOTAL COSTS: $1,000

The Oaks Academy – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
theoaksacademy.org
Status: Ongoing
Ages taught: Middle school
Wish List: 40 rechargeable batteries, 1 battery charger
Approximate Cost: $150
TOTAL COSTS: $150

Shepherd Community Center – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
www.shepherdcommunity.org
Status: Ongoing
Ages taught: Middle school, high school
Wish List: (4) DSLR cameras, Adobe Photoshop software for 3 computers
Approximate Cost: $500/camera, $700/software package
TOTAL COSTS: $4100

Challenge Foundation Academy – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
www.indy.teamcfa.org
Status: Current
Ages taught: Grades 4-5

LifeBridge Community – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
www.lifebridge-community.org
Status: Pending, Past (2009-10)
Ages taught: Middle school
Wish List: TBD

Point Hope School – Point Hope, Alaska, USA
www.tikigaq.com/point_hope.shtml
Status: Pending, Fall (2011)
Ages taught: Middle school
Wish List: 15 point-and-shoot digital cameras
Approximate Cost: $150/camera
TOTAL COSTS: $2,250

Sangita Charitable Trust – Chennai, India
www.sangitacharitabletrust.com
Status: Current
Ages taught: Middle school, high school
Wisth List: 15 point-and-shoot digital cameras, money to cover printing costs
Approximate cost: $150/camera, $250 printing costs
TOTAL COSTS: $2,500

Fortville Elementary School – Fortville, Indiana, USA
www.mvcsc.k12.in,us/mves
Status: Past (2011)
Ages taught: Grade 4

Common Ground Christian Church – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
www.cground.org
Status: Past (Fall 2010)
Ages taught: Elementary school, middle school

Community Photography Summer Camp – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Status: Past (2010)
Ages taught: Middle school

Rebuilding the Wall – Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
www.rebuildingthewall.org
Status: Current

If you are interested in getting involved in these models, please email info@theviewfinderproject.org!

Status definitions:
Ongoing = the project has been incorporated into the location’s regular programs
Current = the project is currently happening but may or may not become a regular program
Pending = the project is currently being planned and often is dependent on acquiring necessary resources before proceeding
Past = the project has been completed; future projects have not been scheduled