Las Fotos Project and The Muskoka Foundation Join Forces to Empower Latina Orphans in Guanajuato, MX

Oct. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Las Fotos Project has joined forces with The Muskoka Foundation to empower disadvantaged Latina teens. Together, they will implement an esteemed photography program at an orphanage in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Eric V. Ibarra, creator of Las Fotos Project, will begin instruction of the course on November 8, 2010. The Muskoka Foundation will supply each of the five students with a digital camera, as well as lessons to teach her the basics of photography and camera mechanics. Buen Pastor, an all-girls orphanage, has selected the students for the program. They will also host the photography training, as well as the instructor, at their 106-year-old convent, located atop one of the hills in the picturesque city of Guanajuato.

“Expect to see some remarkable photographs from the Guanajuato program students,” says Eric V. Ibarra, “as they learn how to express themselves through art, embark on a journey to explore their community, and share their stories with the world.”

This will be the second collaboration between Las Fotos Project, a Latina empowerment photography movement, and The Muskoka Foundation, a network of travelers developing communities around the world. With the Los Angeles pilot program being so successful, they have planned to implement a total of 10 photography programs across Latin America, over the course of the next three years.

A gallery will be held in the city of Guanajuato on November 14, 2010 to commemorate the growth and accomplishments of the young women involved in the program. All proceeds from the sale of art will go back to the girls. Additionally, images will be available for purchase and viewing at www.lasfotosproject.org.

“The purpose of this program is to really make a difference in the lives of these young girls,” adds Ibarra. “Programs like this are life-changing for everyone involved. It’s an amazing honor to be involved in something of this caliber.”

The mission of the project is to teach photography skills to underprivileged Latina teens. By teaching them photography, the girls are learning a healthy and creative form of self-expression, as well as gaining a skill that can be turned into a career. For additional information and future Latin American program updates, visit www.lasfotosproject.org.

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About Las Fotos Project
Las Fotos Project was founded in 2009 by Photographer Eric V. Ibarra. After seeing a need for teenage girls throughout Latin America to have a skill that could help build their confidence and self-esteem, he combined his passion for photography and helping others into creating Las Fotos Project. By partnering with youth empowerment organizations, he incorporates photography into the lives of Latina teens, and introduces them to an art form that will change their lives for the better. For more information, contact (213) 261-4291 or visit www.lasfotosproject.org