Panorama archive · Media
AYV Partner Appreciation Events Around The World: Buenos Aires
Originally published
The Adobe Youth Voices program has made an impact on the lives of youth around the world and TakingITGlobal has been a part of this journey for the last six years. By collaborating with passionate partners worldwide, the AYV program has brought resources, training and support to creatively engage and empower youth. Through the use of digital tools, youth are able to have their voices heard on the issues that matter the most to them.
None of this work would be possible without the dedication and hard work of the global partners. As a result, AYV has launched a series of Appreciation Events around the world to thank these partners and to celebrate youth creativity. The first AYV Appreciation Events were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in New York, USA. Now, we take you to Buenos Aires, Argentina!
Fundación ph15
Our first stop is at Fundación ph15, an organization that works with youth in marginalized communities using art, particularly photography, as a tool for social change. Through Fundación ph15, the AYV program reached marginalized and underserved youth such as those from Villa 15, a community referred to as a slum and known as “la Ciudad Oculta” or “the Hidden City.”
The Team at Fundación ph15
The AYV program at Fundación ph15 used digital media as a medium to bring hidden issues to the forefront of the community. An impactful example of this was their “Intervention in the Neighbourhood” exhibition in Villa Lugano, where they used photography to begin discussions on stereotyping and social isolation of certain groups of people. Read more about that exhibit here.
Fundación ph15's 'Intervention in the Neighbourhood' Exhibition
Our site visit took us to the headquarters of Fundación ph15. The organization received a Plaque of Appreciation to recognize their efforts and the impact they have had on youth.
EcoEducarte
Our next stop brings us to EcoEducarte which ran the AYV program at various sites over the years. For this AYV Appreciation Event, one of the most enthusiastic sites where the AYV program had the most impact was chosen. The community selected for the celebration was Laferrère, a marginalized and underserved community in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. Similar to the youth in the programs run by Fundación ph15, the youth do not have access to the technology required to create digital media without the program organizer who brought the resources, including a laptop with the Adobe software and cameras for youth to photograph and take videos for their projects.
This celebration took place in the same location where the AYV program had been conducted. It was a large cement-walled enclosure with no roof. Despite the challenges that this posed during the implementation of the AYV program, the youth persevered. In cold weather, they would huddle together as they came up with ideas for their videos. For many of them, this was the first time that they used cameras for photographs and videos. They were very excited to be able to participate in this type of program.
Film Screening with youth from EcoEducarte
The youth who participated in the AYV program as well as some community members attended the screening of the videos that were created during the AYV program. This was followed by the presentation of certificates to the youth participants, the presentation of the Plaque of Appreciation to EcoEducarte, and refreshments accompanied by conversation.
The themes of the videos created at this site reflected the social issues that youth faced in their daily lives including environmental pollution, violence against women, domestic violence, drug addiction, discrimination, and violence at school. This program gave youth the opportunity to have a safe space to discuss these issues. They expressed their gratitude at being able to create digital media that demonstrated what was happening in their community and could be shared with other communities worldwide.
One youth recounted how her group overcame the challenges of creating their video. She learned a lot about the process of creating a video from start to finish and already has ideas for what she would do better next time.
AYV youth participants with their certificates
Thank You!
A special thank you to Veronica Pancheri and the team at Fundación ph15 and to Natalia Benzaquen and the team at EcoEducarte for empowering marginalized youth to express themselves through digital media. Our celebrations here are to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the educators and participants from these sites for their participation and dedication to the Adobe Youth Voices Program. We recognize the meaningful work that is being done on the ground and we are honoured to be a part of the process where the voices of youth, who often feel that they are invisible, are heard.