Documentary Perspectives
Lewis Hine Fellows take on responsibilities both in the home office and in the field. As they become immersed in their surroundings, Fellows develop ways that their observational and technical documentary skills can contribute to the missions of host organizations.
During their fellowships, Fellows produce in-depth documentary projects that address key concerns of host organizations and the communities they serve. Using writing, photography, audio, or video, Fellows create portraits that connect individual lives to broader social and political issues. In doing so, they attempt to render the experience of marginalized children and their families in ways that reach beyond statistics and sensationalized media.
Global Concerns, Local Voices
As Lewis Hine Fellows work with children and families, they are encouraged to develop documentary projects that are collaborative in their approach. Fellows give the tools of their trade back to local participants, asking them to photograph, write, or conduct interviews about issues central to their daily lives. Fellows then connect these materials with their own projects, creating documentary projects that are not just about, but also by, the people with whom they work. For children and adolescents in particular, engaging in documentary work ensures their fundamental right to participate in broader conversations that affect their lives.
