FotoLIBRAS
FotoLIBRAS is a participatory photography project that provides photographic training to young deaf people with the aim of stimulating participants’ self-expression, self-esteem and critical analysis through the creation of photographic images. The project will last seven months and is based in Recife, Pernambuco, North-East Brazil.
Why ’FotoLIBRAS’?
FotoLIBRAS emerged from the concept of participatory photography, recognizing photography as a powerful tool for promoting the ‘voice’ of people whose ‘voice’ is often ignored. In this case, the ‘voice’ is LIBRAS (Brasilian sign language), and the means to promote this voice is the photographic image, a means of communication that does not depend on the use of any spoken, written or signed language to communicate ideas. Participants will learn practical photographic skills and develop and disseminate photographic assignments exploring themes related to deaf culture, rights and citizenship. As such, providing them with the skills to document and disseminate their own ideas and visions of their reality and increase the visibility of the deaf community.
What does it involve?
Training of 20 young deaf people in participatory photography; simulating creativity, self-expression, self-esteem and critical analysis- Thematic seminars on topics chosen by participants and related to the rights and culture of the deaf community
- Creation of photographic essays
- Dissemination of photos to increase the visibility of the deaf community and promote deaf culture
- Support and extra training for the most active participants to be peer educators, creating possibilites for further participatory photography projects with young deaf people
Outputs
A photographic exhibition- A web page
- A book of images (to be sold to riase funds for future courses)
- Production of a project guide on how to create, implement and monitor participatory photography projects with deaf people (including didactic material produced by deaf people)
- A documentary video on the project (to accompany the project guide)
Through these outputs the participants will be able to share their work with a wider audience; giving visbility to the deaf community and their culture, and providing openings for deaf people to work as peer educators.
Who is going to implement the project?
The project will be implemented by the culture sector of the Federation for the Education and inclusion of deaf people (FENEIS) in conjunction with the photographers Mateus Sá, Vládia Lima e Eduardo Queiroga, and in partnership with the photographic agency Lumiar, Canal 03 community communication, International Service Brasil and PhotoVoice, UK.
More information: www.fotolibras.org
Address: FotoLibras, FENEIS, Rua do Hospicio, 194, sala 1304, Boa Vista, Recife-PE, Brazil.
Tel: +55 (0) 81 3222 4958
Email: fotolibras@gmail.com