CMH Global Arts After School is dedicated to providing arts and education programs that build empathy and global citizenry.  In the fall of 2012 the After School All Stars students began their photography exchange with children at an orphanage in Haiti.

For the past 9 weeks the After School All Stars students have learned about life in Haiti, as well as principles of digital photography.

Throughout the program our students brainstormed on creative ways they could reach out to their Haitian photography partners.  Ultimately our students created an incredible final photography project.  Each child painted their face with a different color from the Haitian Flag and took both individual portraits of each other as well as a group portrait of their faces forming the flag of Haiti.  These amazing students didn’t stop there. They also wrote friendship letters in Haitian Creole to be sent to the students in Haiti. 

Children Mending Hearts mailed the photographs from After School All Stars, along with digital cameras to Haiti, where a group of children living in an Orphanage in Les Cayes received them.   A photography workshop facilitated by CMH was conducted and the Haitian students replied with their own original photographs.

The CMH Global Arts Photography Exchange and Final Exhibit featured both “Lifestyle Photographs” by the After School All Stars students and our Haitian Photography partners from Les Cayes, Haiti.

Take a look at the final exhibit that showcased all the work from the semester and the photographs from the students at the orphanage in Haiti.  After School All Stars students’ families were also invited to attend the final exhibit showing and end of program party.  CMH is so proud of our students and incredible creativity and world perspective they showcased in their work.  Congratulations to our Global Citizens!

CMH Global Arts After School has just wrapped up our first Photography class at the Watts Willowbrook Boys and Girls Club!  What a success!

The students at Boys & Girls Club learned about life in HAITI, what it means to be a GLOBAL CITIZEN, and the basics of digital PHOTOGRAPHY. The class also learned about documentary photography and how important photojournalism is to SOCIAL ACTIVISM. 

 Our PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWCASE featured the original works of CMH Global Arts students as well as the portraits from our PHOTO EXCHANGE with children from HAITI!  During the photography course our students took portraits of each other holding a message to our friends in Haiti.   The portraits were sent to Haiti and were given to a class of Haitian students. The Haitian students LOVED our photos and responded with their own portraits, which were also featured in our Showcase! 

 WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OUR STUDENTS!

In week 7 CMH Global Arts Students began their big project of creating Self-Portrait photos with a message that will be shared with Haitian youth through the photo Exchange. 

Using empathy and thoughtfulness the students wrote positive, happy messages of strength and pride in both English AND Haitian Creole to share with their Haitian photography partners!