Job Discussion Forums

kennyloo · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 8

Is anyone interested in receiving some disposable cameras to distribute to some of your students, allowing them to take pictures, and then sending the cameras back to me (I can pay for postage)???

I have just received $10,000 from the Donald A Strauss Scholarship Foundation, to implement my own public-service project. Basically, I want to distribute cameras around the world to local youth, and have them capture the essence of their experiences through the lens of a camera. Have those cameras sent back to me, and use those images to create an international photo gallery that will travel to local schools around Orange County, California. My project seeks to humanize the vast global experience while empowering American youth to think critically about today�s international issues.

If you are at all interested in playing a crucial role in this project, please e-mail me at [email protected], and I can send you more details about my project! Thank you so much!

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

If you give me USD 10K and send me a load of cameras, I will distribute them here in Romania for you. The project will be called Enterprise Romania, teaching young Romanians the value of commercial skills. Laughing

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

What you ask can't be easily accomplished in the Middle East, the forum where you have posted this message. Its not easy to take pictures in the Middle East of people and sometimes even places because of cultural and religious beleifs. Most women would protest in the GCC countries, and others maybe offended, threatened or simply refuse because they would fear what you will do with the picture. It would also be pretty strange for a teacher to ask his/her students if they could take their picture or if they would take pictures for them, and may even jeopardize his/her job and or reputation. I would rethink this one if I were you.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Well QS, I have lots and lots of pictures of me and my students both male and female from Oman, the UAE, and Egypt from over the years. I was surprised at how many of the girls were completely comfortable with it. There was no pressure either way. Those that didn't want photos were not chided for avoiding the camera and those that didn't mind photos were not criticized for allowing it. I just allowed them to make the rules - and handle the camera. In the UAE, the women's colleges published magazines full of student photos!!

But, I agree that this project would have to be carefully handled in the ME. I can see the male students having fun with it... and a few of women to be honest... Laughing

VS

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Even with the students' permission, it's rather difficult to take a snapshot on a campus where cameras are banned ...

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

This is a total non-starter where I am. Images ? Of PEOPLE ? What sort of abomination are you trying to encourage ?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Yes, but this is the General Middle East board, and Saudi Arabia is the exception, NOT the rule.

I have never taught on a campus in any ME country where cameras are/were banned. North Africa and the Levant would be no problem. Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE - no problem. I suspect that Bahrain is the same.

I don't know about Qatar... may depend on the university there. Since they are Wahhabi, QU may be a no... but some of the private colleges probably allow cameras.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

VS

Why would we want to get involved ?

Sheikh Inal Ovar · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 1208 Location: Melo Drama School

Even with the students' permission, it's rather difficult to take a snapshot on a campus where cameras are banned ...