Floral Park, NY - April 17th, 2015 - Project Picture Day, a non-for-profit organization that aids underserved, school communities will be heading to schools in Haiti this coming Fall and Kenya in 2015. Project Picture Day is a not-for-profit organization founded by Long Island native Jules Alonzo which focuses on fostering emotional development of students. Their projects reach underserved communities on a global scale through organized school picture days. Their mission is to provide meaningful and educational experiences for students of all ages.
From July 18 to July 30, the team will head to Mtwapa, Kenya.
From August 24 to August 28, the organization will travel to Ile-a-Vache, Haiti to photograph 450-500 students at 3 schools: Ecole Le Bon Samaritain, Ecole du Village, and Ecole Etoile du Matin.
Here's how it works: They dedicate a full day to photographing the students. Upon arriving at a school, they set up two stations with each station consisting of 1 DSLR camera, 1 tripod, 1 light stand and 1 external flash.
After photographing the students, they transfer the photos to their laptops and edit each portrait with photographic software. Finally, they print on 2-3 portable printers that produce 4 x 6 inch, glossy portraits.
Within 24 hours, each student receives his or her school portrait, a pencil, and a notebook. Any surplus school supplies are donated to the school.
Project Picture Day was recently in Barrio Cienfeugos in Santiago, Dominican Republic this past January where they photographed 154 students, donated 2 suitcases and a duffle bag full of school supplies and helped spread hope in education among these children.
"The parents were very pleased with the photos," said Melanie de Alcequiez, principal at Futuro Leno de Esperanza School. "The kids are in love with you all and I just feel so thankful for you guys giving up your precious time and hard-earned money to offer this service to us."
About Project Picture Day's Local Founder, Jules Alonzo
Jules had been working for a media company in the heart of Manhattan for over 2 years and during the Fall of last year, he began feeling unhappy with what he was doing. There was something missing, he felt his day-to-day was unfulfilling. He found myself in a routine of wake up, work, go home, and sleep when he knew he should have been following his dreams. Jules took a mental healthy day from work and asked himself what truly, genuinely makes him happy?
His two passions in life are in photography and humanitarian work. Photography was a hobby that he quickly fell in love with and the power of giving always left him with an uplifting feeling. The following weeks consisted of trying to find a way to combine both passions into one project. Jules reached out to friend, Jen Campos, who he had met a few months back at a wedding that she was working, as a photographer. They brainstormed ways to bring their love for photography and helping people into one. As a result, Project Picture Day was created.
For Jules, there's a deeper meaning behind what photography really is. The idea that a particular moment is significant and important enough to us that people would want to photograph it in order to let that present feeling, moment, setting last a little bit longer - if not forever. What really stuck out was the inability for people in underserved communities to have this luxury. Jules wanted to share that with them and what better way than through education? Project Picture Day wants those student portraits to symbolize hope and inspire students to never give up. They target emotional needs of students, which are the building blocks for positive change.
Jules is a Floral Park, Nassau County resident where Project Picture Day is established.
Project Picture Day is a certified 501c3 not-for-profit organization. Help support Project Picture Day by visiting their website, Liking them on Facebook, or Following along on Twitter or Instagram!