Outside the Lens |
Photo Pal |
Mission Statement
The mission of Outside the Lens is to amplify youth voices through photography, filmmaking, and digital media art, catalyzing change within themselves, their community, and the world. Our innovative program engages youth, encourages them to tell their stories and teaches them that participation in their community’s future makes a difference. We use cameras and digital media along with a proven educational strategy that allows youth to think creatively, engage in issues that are important to them and advocate for social change. Our Vision Outside the Lens is dedicated to a future where all youth will have the access and education necessary to understand, evaluate and, most importantly, create media. Through photography, videography and digital media, youth become engaged learners and active participants in the classroom, their communities and ultimately the world. |
Fortune Community Center has been operating in northwest Thailand for several years, serving the community of Thai Yai (Shan) refugees and migrants from Shan State in Burma (Myanmar), with projects in community health, education, environment and networking. Photo Pal was started by Poppy Copeland, Bear Carlson and Barbara Lavender in 2011, and operates at the Fortune Center.
One of our first students, Saimu Mulang, runs the project, and brings youth from the region to the center for training. From the beginning, the purpose of Photo Pal has been to introduce photography as a means of creatively expressing the experiences of the youth in adapting to a foreign culture and to connect them with youth in other cultures, through photo exchanges. Collaboration with Outside The Lens began in 2016, is a natural fit, and the OTL programs further the Photo Pal goals. |