2013 CORPORATE INFORMATION PACKET

PROJECT ISTWA

CONTENTS

1 1PROJECT ISTWA:

WHO ARE WE? 5

PREVIOUS EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS 8

PRESS, OUTREACH AND SOCIAL NETWORKING 11

WHO WE SERVE 13

2 WHY BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR? 14

Sa se mama mwen ak youn vwazen. Yo wè youn ti moun ki

ap eseye fè yon bagay pou tet li epi sa fe yo kontan.

This is my mother and a neighbor. They see a child who

is trying to make something of herself and that makes

them happy.

Fabienne, 15

5]

PROJECT ISTWA—WHO ARE WE?

Founded in 2011, Project Istwa is a nonprofit organization that conducts a series of seven-day

photography workshops and youth development programs for young Haitians throughout Haiti.

While the global media coverage of Haiti is significant, particularly after the January 2010

earthquake, opportunities for Haitians to portray their views and perspectives directly are limited.

The purpose of Project Istwa is to allow participants to use photography to communicate what is

important to them and how they see their world. Often visitors capturing images of the children of

Haiti have no real interaction with their subject. Project Istwa gives these children the opportunity

to experience being on the other side of the camera. Through the world of photography they

have the opportunity to tell their story, their way, through their own eyes.

There are several goals Project Istwa seeks to accomplish. First and foremost, the hope is that the

children simply have fun that that they find the workshops fulfilling. While that is the main priority,

Project Istwa is also designed both as a community and capacity-building activity and exercise of

empowerment that aims to leave the children feeling that their voices and perspectives matter.

During each workshop, participants are given a digital camera so they can take photographs

that show what a day in their life looks like from their perspective. Working with facilitators, the

children learn about their cameras and photography, photograph their surroundings and discuss

why they chose to take certain photos. At the end of the week they show their photos to family,

friends and community members in a public exhibition in their neighborhoods.

Project Istwa plans to conduct workshops in each of the ten departments of Haiti, as well as the

bateys (impoverished areas where Haitian migrant workers reside) in the Dominican Republic, with

the goal of allowing Haitian youth all across the island the freedom to express themselves.

Workshops have already been completed in six departments with over one hundred participants

who have all used photography and narrative to represent how they see themselves and their

communities.

6]

To ensure that the scope and purpose of Project Istwa extends beyond each workshop, initiatives

are in progress to maintain a long-term relationship between Project Istwa and Project Istwa

alumni. One of these initiatives will focus on connecting the youth who participate in Project Istwa

so that they can see how others their age live and view their lives in Haiti. Project Istwa also seeks

to maintain long–term relationships with program alumni and their communities through

participant driven community development projects. For as many groups as is feasible, Project

Istwa meets with participants after the workshop to hear what they want and need in their

communities. Project Istwa then facilitates the necessary fundraising and partnerships to

implement these projects. This process has already begun with Project Istwa alumni from Cité

Soleil and Pétion-Ville. The participants from Cité Soleil requested a baking class to learn how to

bake traditional Haitian cakes. This class took place at the Corail Restaurant in Pétion-Ville, this

past summer. Beginning in spring 2013, participants from both Cité Soleil and Pétion-Ville will

participate in traditional folkloric dance and drumming classes that they requested. Other

development projects requested by alumni include computer training courses, English and

Spanish language classes and tree planting.

Project Istwa is thankful to work with a variety of community partners in Haiti including Konbit Pou

Edikasyon (KPE), Port-Salut Community Council, The Salvation Army Haiti and Tek4Kids among

others. Several sponsors such as Hotel Florita, Cap Lamandou Hotel, Cola Lacaye, Fleurimond

Catering, Prestige and Rhum Barbancourt, help ensure that Project Istwa workshops, events and

exhibitions are successful.

Project Istwa is also grateful to partner with organizations and groups in the United States including

the William H. Carr Junior High School 194 in Whitestone, New York whose students raised funds for

Project Istwa’s January 2013 workshops, the Jay Dudley Luce Foundation who hosted Project

Istwa’s January 2013 exhibition in New York City, and the Titus Mentorship Experience in Detroit,

Michigan, which is currently hosting a pen pal program for Project Istwa alumni.

Community Exhibition - July 25, 2012

Hotel Florita - Jacmel

8]

2011

July: Cité Soleil, with Konbit Pou Edikasyon.

2012

January: Tent city, Camp Acra II Juvenat in

Pétion-Ville with Camp Manager

May: Our Voices | Our Words | Our Photos:

Stories and Images from the Youth of Port-au-

Prince Exhibition at the Dillon Gallery, New

York City.

July: Hinche, with Sacré-Coeur church, Port-

Salut with Port-Salut CADEC & Jacmel with

the Salvation Army Haiti

2013

January: Earthquake commemoration

exhibition, La Difference, at the Stonehedge/

Luce Non-Profit Space.

January: Miragoâne with the Salvation Army

Haiti & Jérémie with Tek4Kids

June: Exhibition at 25CPW Gallery hosted by

photographer and philanthropist, Marc

Baptiste.

July-August: Four additional workshops are in

the works in Fort-Libertè, Cap-Haïtien,

Port-de-Paix and Gonaïves.

PREVIOUS EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

Port-Salut - July 2012

9]

Past workshop communities.

Summer 2013 workshop communities.

10]

In my own thoughts I see that we have

people helping us. It's not just in my

country I see we have people helping us.

I would be happy if they could help other

kids and not just me. If they start with just

helping us, when we get older we will

help other kids. And when we help them

they will think good thoughts and

develop themselves well. What I love

most for Project Istwa is they continue to

help other children “

- Frantz, 12 Jacmel

11]

PRESS, OUTREACH AND SOCIAL NETWORKING

A recent article on Project Istwa focused on the positive effects of the Project

Istwa workshops:

“In one particular case, a young boy was initially reluctant to communicate or

even make eye contact with the instructors or other participants. By the end of

the workshop, he could be seen smiling, talking, and enjoying himself. The

change was noticed by his older brother, who exclaimed “He opened up, you

brought him to life! ”1

Additionally, our social networking base is sizeable & growing:

Our Facebook fan base is made up of over 1,200 fans from 20

countries.

61% of our page subscribers are women.

59% are between the ages of 25 and 34.

Project Istwa utilizes the dynamic Twitter community of organizations,

individuals, publications and philanthropic initiatives working in youth,

photography and Haiti related issues.

Twitter followers have increased by 50% since the inception of the

account.

1Marquez DaSilva, Natalia. Project Istwa: A Way of Communication, September 21, 2012.

Le mwen panse de tet mwen kom youn fotograf kè m ‘se lajwa.

When I think of myself as a photographer my heart is joyous.

Dudley, 9

13]

WHO WE SERVE

FACTS ABOUT HAITI’S YOUTH

As of 2012, there are an estimate of 4,316,000 children residing within Haiti.1

At present, 56.1% of the population are under 25 years of age.2

In a 2012 study, UNDP estimated the mean years of schooling throughout the population at 4.9.2

PROJECT ISTWA serves the large youth population in Haiti’s diverse provinces, rural communities as

well as urban, and tent city dwellers, providing young people with a formative experience as well

as access to an educational and playful outlet for communication.

When I think of myself as a photographer my heart is joyous! - Dudley, 9 Cité Soleil

In accordance with our 2012 goal, at present 100% of

Project Istwa alumni are enrolled in school. Project Istwa

seeks to offer additional assistance where needed to

ensure 100% school enrollment.

During 2012, 76 Haitian youth participated in Project

Istwa workshops during its second year, raising our total

number of participants to 105.

53% of the participants were female.

We have experienced nearly a 300% increase participants

since 2011.

1Children of Haiti: Two Tears After, Unicef, 2012 Report, United Nations Children’s Fund. 2The Rise of the South: Human Development Report 2013.

Pétion-Ville, January 2012

14]

As a corporate sponsor YOU can make a

difference and be a part of an amazing, life-

changing experience for Haitian youth!

Sponsoring the Project Istwa NYC exhibition is

not only a good community investment.

Corporate partnership allows you to maximize

your exposure within our growing community,

while showing commitment to the future of

Haiti.

Sponsoring Project Istwa is a good business

investment!

WHY BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR?

By becoming a partner you will:

Contribute to the historical narrative of Haiti, ensuring that the perspectives of the

country’s young people are shared and preserved;

Align your company with a well represented non-profit organization with an

extensive following;

Create social awareness for your corporate brand & identity;

Exemplify a positive image to your corporate stakeholders;

Cultivate a new group of potential employees and consumers through outreach to

a new audience; and

Receive heightened advertising coverage through web and print mediums. This

exhibition will be publicized through a national press release distributed to all major

U.S. media outlets—Huffington Post, Associated Press, The New York Times etc.

Miragôane, January 2013

Cité Soleil - July 2012

www.projectistwa.org

Linda D. Thélémaque

President and Founder

(T) 646.389.3423

Email: linda@projectistwa.org