Fotokids Inc

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1991, FOTOKIDS (ORIGINALLY UNDER IT'S THEN FISCAL SPONSOR, THE SAN CARLOS FOUNDATION) HAS UTILIZED PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND MEDIA TECHNOLOGY AS TOOLS FOR SELF-EXPRESSION, CREATIVITY, LEADERSHIP AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE WITH HUNDREDS OF YOUTH FROM POOR RURAL AND URBAN AREAS. THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS, IN ADDITION TO LEARNING EMPLOYABLE SKILLS WITH FOTOKIDS, RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY IN FORMAL SCHOOLS FROM THE LEVEL OF PRIMARY EDUCATION THROUGH UNIVERSITY.

FOTOKIDS PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON JOB SKILLS THAT SET OUR STUDENTS APART FROM THE 200,000 YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE EVERY YEAR, INCREASING THEIR CHANCES OF EMPLOYMENT IN A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET. PORTFOLIOS CREATED BY THE STUDENTS INCLUDE WORK DONE FOR ACTUAL CLIENTS, SUCH AS EDITORIAL AND EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY, DESIGNING AND PHOTOGRAPHING COMMERCIAL CATALOGS, AND CREATING WEB PAGES. GUATEMALA CITY REMAINS THE HUB FOR ALL OUR PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT GUATEMALA, AND ALL OUR STAFF ARE GRADUATES OF FOTOKIDS. WE OPERATE AN INTERN PROGRAM FOR TEENAGE STUDENTS, PROVIDING THEM WITH ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CLIENTS. IN ADDITION TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING, FOTOKIDS PROVIDES THROUGH FUNDACIÓN DE NIÑOS ARTISTAS DE GUATEMALA, COUNSELING, TUTORING, AND EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONALS IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN. AS THE COVID CHALLENGES HAVE SUBSIDED AND THE SITUATION HAS RETURNED TO A MORE NORMAL STATE, WE HAVE RESUMED FULL OPERATIONS. WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH COUNSELING AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT AS NEEDED, WHILE OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING HAS FULLY RESUMED, INCLUDING IN-PERSON CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, AND EXHIBITIONS. THE ORGANIZATION REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS LUNCHES, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO ENSURE THE WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS.

IN SANTIAGO ATITLÁN, WE HAVE RESUMED FULL OPERATIONS FOR FOTOKIDS CLASSES, UTILIZING THE GARDEN, PERGOLA, AND THE NEW SCHOOLHOUSE TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. DURING THE PANDEMIC, SANTIAGO WAS STRUCK BY THE COVID AND THE RESISTENCE TO MASKING AND PROTOCOLS REQUIRED US TO BE ESPECIALLY VIGILENT IN PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. WITH THE SITUATION NOW RETURNING TO NORMAL, WE HAVE FULLY RESUMED IN-PERSON CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. OUR STUDENTS ARE ONCE AGAIN ENGAGED IN HANDS-ON LEARNING AND PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHIC AND DESIGN PROJECTS. DUE TO THE CONTINUING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES, FOTOKIDS HAS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES BY PROVIDING FOOD BASKETS AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT. THE FOTOKIDS TEAM CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR CREATEIVE WAYS TO ENSURE WE CAN HELP ENSURE THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN SANTIAGO ATITLÁN AND GUATEMALA CITY PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH ACCESS TO FORMAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FROM PRIMARY THROUGH SECONDARY SCHOOL, INCLUDING A GROWING NUMBER OF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. THE PROGRAM COVERS TUITION, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UNIFORMS, AND TRANSPORTATION, ENABLING STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON THEIR STUDIES WITHOUT FINANCIAL STRESS. BY SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION, WE OPEN DOORS TO ADVANCED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND EMPOWER UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. THIS INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION HELPS BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND CREATES A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR YOUTH IN CENTRAL AMERICA.