During a meeting with Bernard and Linda yesterday, I got some great feedback and creative suggestions. For example:
Could I incorporate Flat Stanley techniques in some way? If you don't know about it (I didn't) here's a link: http://www.flatstanley.com/ Basically, imagine if one of the Malawian children makes a paper doll, decorates it, and takes pictures with it as it accompanies her in her daily life. I bring the doll back with me and give it to a child at a Durham, NC school who does the same. Pictures are somehow exchanged, the doll somehow returned, and now there's a connection between them. I think that in the US, the main focus is on writing journals, but here it would be on photography as a way to document life. Obviously, this would require the utmost sensitivity (orphans, child headed households, poverty, children, illness, etc), but I love the simplicity of it and the opportunity for them to learn about and feel closer to one another.
How can I bring together photography and health/nutrition messages? Bernard and Linda explained that when vaccination visits have included a family photo, made into a basic calendar with return visits marked, completion rates have gone up. What is needed, and what role could documentation or interviews from this project play in addressing that need?
What might participants want to do with the photos? Some examples: have photo books made, hang photos, make simple scrapbooks. I'm not sure what significance the photos or other documentation might have - or not have! - for the participants, and will have to learn more about this when I'm there.
I bought a great little printer - Polaroid "POGO" - and will test it out. 2x3" instant photos, no ink required.
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I think what's neat about the doll idea you had is that it's something that ties all the pictures together.
ReplyDeleteOne idea is to perhaps ask all the kids you meet, "what are you most scared of?" or "what do you want to be when you grow up?" or something like that, and everyone could hold up their written (or drawn!) answer. Hehe just an idea.
as always.. u remain an inspiration to me Kat... I'm so proud of your accomplishments and can't imagine the positive you'll have on every child u come in contact with in Malawi...still missing u and to think a month from today u'll be in a totally different time zone.. WOW...
ReplyDeletei like Lill's idea of asking a question that shows how universal childhood is.. eg love, fear, hope, wishes, dreams...finding ways to make seen the unseen through photography (fears etc)...