Bringing hope to disadvantaged children in Guatemala

Linda Morales is 22 years old and lives in a poor neighbourhood in Guatemala City with her parents and her two younger sisters. When she was just 8 years old, she joined the Fotokids Foundation where she learnt how to use a camera. In recent years she has represented Guatemala at the Latin American Photography Festival in Paris and, as one of the Fotokids Foundation’s teachers, is today dedicating herself to building a brighter future for Guatemala’s children.

Fotokids was founded by former war photographer Nancy McGirr in 1991. Six days a week, students come to receive classes in photography, digital imaging, graphic design, website design, publicity, creative writing and video. The project also encourages children to pursue a formal education, as full-time attendance at school is an absolute must for all Fotokids participants.

Today Linda teaches photography and video production to children participating in the Fotokids project. This is in addition to assisting at the Centre of the Image in Guatemala City, and giving workshops on photography to the general public. The children that Linda teaches face huge challenges in their lives. Many of the children are from very poor communities, and a large number are living with HIV/AIDS.

In May 2006, Linda travelled to Uganda with WER to document through photography the lives of children and their families living in IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps in the north of the country. Her photographs were published in the national paper, El Periodico, and she also appeared on Guatemalan television to share her experiences with the rest of the country.

Through the Fotokids Foundation, young people like Linda are developing their skills and talents, and embracing the future with hope and ambition. The future is certainly exciting for them – let’s watch this space!