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Fotofronteras
“You have given me the best gift… you have taught us something beautiful that can be useful in the future.”
“W”, participant in Fotofronteras

“This class changed my life… I am interested in becoming a photographer as a profession and this class helped me with the knowledge I need to do that.”
“C”, participant in Fotofronteras

 

 

Fotofronteras is a vocational photography program designed for immigrant youth currently in detention as “unaccompanied minors.” It began as a pilot program with immigrant youth from Central America. Many of these youth will be returned to their home countries, where they face conditions of extreme poverty and lack of employment possibilities. Fotofronteras extends the frontiers of these youths’ lives by opening opportunities for meaningful employment and entrepreneurial activities in the field of photography. Through photography, participating youth explore their own creativity and expand their personal frontiers and horizons, enlarging their vision of what is possible for them to accomplish in their lives.

Roughly 8,000 “unaccompanied minors” were in Federal Custody during 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available. Three countries, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, account for about 85% of the youth detained. Texas hosts 58% of these youth, far more than any other state.

Through the Healing Arts program at Baptist Children’s Home, professional artists Dianne Monroe and Fadela Castro lead 2-4 photography intensives each year. In addition, they have begun an in-kind program where donated used camera equipment is supplied to youth once they have returned to their home countries.

 

 

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