Academy for Educational Development

Visual Griots aims to empower youth to tell their stories and engage with their communities through the art of photography.  The project helps develop critical thinking skills, self confidence, pride and connection to community, and integenerational ties with youth.  The project consists of two participatory and community-based photography workshops in Mali with 22 youth between the ages of 10 and 15.  The resulting photographs were exhibited first in their villages, then in the capital city, and now at the Smithsonian in the U.S.