How donated cameras are giving vulnerable youth around the globe a vision for change
Updated | By Beautiful News
Lydia Billings is in charge of the programmes at 100 Cameras, a non-profit organisation that works with kids around the world who have had challenging experiences.
A child’s creativity is crucial to their growth and development. But for marginalised and at-risk youth, this natural sense of wonder is warped by fear, pain, and the need to survive. To empower these kids to express themselves, Lydia Billings puts a camera in their hands. “We teach youth who have been through challenging experiences how to process and share their own stories,” she says.
Billings is the Director of Programs at 100cameras, a non-profit organisation that distributes cameras to children between 10 and 18 years old across the globe. From a refugee camp in Iraq to low-income neighbourhoods in New York City, kids are equipped to represent themselves and the world around them. With an outlet for their voices, the images the children produce defy negative labels attached to their communities and reframe their lived experiences. “I’m in awe of the pure, uncensored perspectives that they bring,” Billings says.
Children involved in this initiative become agents of change. The organisation provides a platform for the kids to sell their images, with 100% of the proceeds funnelled back into their communities. “They get to see the real impact of their creativity,” Billings says. Youth are taking back control over the narrative of their lives. Looking through a new lens, they have a vision for transformation.
For more Beautiful News stories see below:
- “It’s my moral duty.” The taekwondo coach knocking out stereotypes in India
- An unbreakable bond with animals revealed our path in life
- Is this heaven on earth? Discover angels dancing in the depths of the ocean
- You can’t choose your family... unless you join the circus
- Can robots combat loneliness? This innovator has the antidote to isolation
In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, you can help us spread information and hope. Share your positive stories by clicking here and we’ll be in contact.
Main image courtesy of Beautiful News
Show's Stories
-
Danny Guselli gets personal about Mental Health
It doesn't mean if you are smiling all the time, that you are okay; some...
Danny Guselli 3 hours ago -
Caught on camera: Elephant escapes and surprises residents
An elephant escaped its park and strolled into a local neighbourhood, le...
Stacey & J Sbu 4 hours ago