Afrocaribeñas camp 2024 in Puerto Rico: Photovoice 

This summer, Taller Salud hosted their “Campamento Afrocaribeñas y Afrocaribeñitas 2024” with the theme “We can dream big!” Camp participants were divided into two groups: “Afrocaribeñitas” (7-12 years of age) and “Afrocaribeñas” (13-18 years of age). 

Seventeen Afrocaribbean youth from the municipalities of Canóvanas, Loíza and Río Grande attended the Afrocaribeñas Camp. These young women participated in a series of diverse dynamic and educational activities centered around the themes of identity, dreaming, history, roots, generations, academic and skilled professions, community, Loíza, narratives, photographs, and dance. 

Taller Salud provided space for Esperanza United to teach the camp participants about Photovoice, with the purpose of highlighting photography as a tool to promote change, power, and community liberation.  

Photovoice (“Fotovoz” in Spanish) is a participatory-action research methodology that allows members of a community to lead research projects that highlight issues and strengths within their communities. Specifically, Photovoice includes the exploration of social problems within a community through photographs and critical discussion. To engage camp participants in participatory-action research, our Photovoice facilitators utilized a culturally-sensitive and specific approach in the adaptation of the Photovoice curriculum to the central theme of the camp: cultural identity.  

Camp participants collectively chose the topic of “Mental Health in My Community” to explore and discuss through photographs and narratives. A final exhibit of the photographs took place in Río Grande, Puerto Rico. In the exhibit of their photographs and written narratives, the participants feel as they are: bright stars who can dream big.  

Check out below two of photographs and narratives submitted by the participants:

“This picture represents friendship and how friendship can help mental health. For me, friendship helps because you have someone you trust, who helps you when you are sad, mad and happy. Also, friendship helps you to process emotions.”  

“I think that sport would help improve mental health in youth. Sports make young people feel free, happy and having a team makes them feel more supported.” 

Learn more about Taller Salud.