ProjectFocus Hawai’i, Inc., a non-profit Hawai`i corporation, was founded in 2005 on the premise that everyone needs a voice, and no one needs it more than a child who has much to say. At ProjectFocus Hawai’i, we use photography to teach at-risk children to express and gain perspective on their experiences. In doing so, we enhance self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-reflection, all critical components in fostering the resilience necessary to make a fulfilling life from challenging ingredients.
In partnership with a different non-profit organization each year, ProjectFocus Hawai‘i conducts an annual twelve-week photographic internship for a maximum of fourteen at-risk children, ages ten through eighteen. Over the course of the internship, the children are both the subjects and photographers. Their hard work culminates in a series of public exhibits, staged to a professional standard, that are held at multiple island venues. Participants receive their photographs and a coffee table book containing their collective images. This year’s non-profit partner is HUGS.
Laurie Callies and Lisa Uesugi are professional children’s photographers and co-founders of ProjectFocus Hawai`i, Inc. On a volunteer basis, they raise all funding and oversee and run all aspects of ProjectFocus Hawai‘i’s twelve-week internship.
“Kindred Spirits”
This years exhibit will reflect the compassionate relationship between siblings.
Our 2010 participants from HUGS are the healthy brothers and sisters of children suffering from serious illnesses, as they are the ones who often feel isolated and alone as family members direct their energy to the ill child. Participants will photograph their ill brother or sister and together will be celebrated at the August 29th private opening night exhibit reception for over 300 of Hawai`iʻs top community and business leader at Macyʻs Ala Moana.
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