I first encountered the Fotokids story in 2007 while researching organizations using photography to teach kids valuable life skills. When I read their story I was moved to tears and vowed that I had to help in some personally meaningful way. Since the requirements for volunteers included a 6 month commitment and Spanish lanquage fluency it looked unlikely that I would be able to make as big an impact as I felt moved to. Then in 2008 I was blessed with an opportunity to travel to Guatemala as a mentor working with Fotokids during a one-week project.

I never felt my skills more meaningfully used than during that brief week. Fotokids teachers translated, as the kids soaked up everything I had to share with them. I found them all to be very grateful for the opportunity to learn, and motivated to better themselves. So, when at the end of the week Nancy McGirr, founder and executive director of Fotokids, suggested that she wanted to teach more graphic design, I readily volunteered to recruit other creative professionals to come back and teach week-long workshops. That moment was the genisis of the Design4Kids Workshops.

As of January 2011, Design4Kids has presented 5 project-based service workshops in Central America, working with more than 35 youth, 10 travelling mentors, 20 plus on-line mentors and helpers, to serve the communication needs of 5 local businesses and charitable organizations. The workshops are win/win/win. The students gain knowledge, experience, and inspiration. The mentors gain the warmth of seeing their skills and knowledge change young lives for the better. And the businesses and charitable organizations gain professionally executed visual communication products to help them spread their message.

To learn more about Fotokids and the Design4Kids Workshops click on the respective highlighted text links to visit to the websites.

Donations can be made in any amount greater than $10, and all funds are appreciated. If you are like me and prefer to make recurring small donations, you can do so on the page that comes up once you click on the Donate link.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and for considering helping us help these amazing kids, Jeff