Memories from Childhood
We all have memories from childhood of what we dreamed of doing when we would grow up. We cherish our favorites, laugh at the silly ones, and pause at some of the tougher memories. As small children, we may not have understood what a hope or a dream was, but we wanted to learn quickly and we learned along the way. These new concepts expanded our minds and hearts to a bigger world and goals for ourselves and our family.
Hopes and Dreams
Do you remember what you dreamed about when you were younger? Did you dream about becoming a writer or scientist? Did you hope to swim with dolphins or learn something new?
In April, children from Saranam participated in the Pictures of Hope project, founded by photojournalist, Linda Solomon. Each year, a homeless youth organization is chosen to explore their dreams through photography. For the children, learning to harness their power of hope and encourages their confidence and self-worth.
Solomon and Saranam mentors met with children (ages 5-14) to explore their hopes and dreams at the Albuquerque Museum. To start, the children were tasked to brainstorm with their mentors and write down their ideas. Each child wrote down several, for example:
“My dream is to find a new galaxy.”
“My dream is to have my own dog.”
“My dream is to be on stage as a musician.”
“My dream is to grow big and strong.”
Do any of these remind you of your youth? Can you feel their yearning for their aspirations to come true? Their honesty and wonder are pure and strong.
Surprise and Sparks
After the writing “assignment”, Solomon shared stories about her career as a photojournalist. Her slide show included recognizable famous people she had photographed, photography tips, and pictures of her dog. The big surprise was giving each child a new digital camera!* Those in the room could feel the energy shift from politely listening to buzzing with excitement. The next “assignment” was to capture one of their hopes and dreams through photography with the new cameras.
“The kids came alive when they got the cameras”, shared Bev Magennis, one of the mentors. Bev is also an artist and said, “you never know what will spark someone and I could see the children were absolutely inspired.”
What Did they See?
The children and mentors scattered outside of the Albuquerque Museum in their sculpture gardens and into Old Town.
“Our mentee talked about playing his instrument at school and became enthralled looking at the stage at the art museum through his camera viewer. He took pictures of that stage from every angle and said it would be cool to perform on an outdoor stage. His big dream was to do something in math or science, and he was absolutely delighted when he saw a pair of socks in a shop window with equations,” shared, Beth Sewell, another mentor.
The children gathered back at the museum to wrap up the day and say goodbye. Solomon and a few of the mentors reviewed all the images and matched them to what each child had handwritten on their page. These final choices would be featured on a display for the families and the public to view the following month.
Big Reveal and Exhibition
On May 30, nearly 50 people attended the exhibition. There were 12 easels lining the edge of Ventana Salon with
enlarged images waiting to be seen. Each child was called up one-by-one to stand next to their photographs as their image and dream were revealed and their dream was recited. Some were shy and others excited and talkative, but every child glowed when they had the opportunity to sign their artwork amid applause from the audience.
The images were also transformed into sets of greeting cards. The set features each of the child’s image and 100% of the proceeds support Saranam. If you would like to purchase a set, click here to order online.
“It was amazing to watch how the camera gave confidence to our children! Once they saw the images they took, they began to express even more of their dreams. The images they captured themselves opened doors for bigger opportunities! Thank you for allowing our kids to, not only dream big, but really imagine what their dreams look like!”, expressed Tracy Weaver, Executive Director of Saranam.
About Linda and Pictures of Hope
Solomon’s program has inspired thousands of children all over the United States since 2005. She is a nationally recognized photojournalist, author, and Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame inductee. Solomon was given a camera when she was a young girl which changed her life. She wants to help change the lives of others by honoring their hopes and dreams, just like she was respected by her parents for her dreams to be a photographer.
Whether you are a child or adult, it is important to always keep hoping and dreaming. And dream BIG!
* We are grateful to Pictures of Hope and their support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for making this opportunity possible for the children at Saranam.