Bridges Workshops

Working on a Documentary

2005-10-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

Meet Yessi

2005-10-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Yessi

Meet Vivi

2005-10-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Vivi

Meet Sara

2005-10-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Sara

Meet Sam

2005-10-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sam

Meet Marta

2005-10-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Marta

Meet Gerardo

2005-10-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

Gerardo

Meet Diego

2005-10-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Diego

Meet Daniel

2005-10-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Daniel

Meet Bertha

2005-10-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Bertha

Meet Andres

2005-10-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Andres

Meet Our Guatemalan Students

2005-10-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Alba

Donations to Purchase Looms

2005-10-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

The cost of these garments is one of the main reasons that local indigenous dress is disappearing. The people are poor and cannot afford such garments. 60% of Guatemalans earn about 15 Q (15 “quetzals”, or $2.00) per day.

Many of the families in the area lost all their belongings to the floods or the mud, and cannot afford to replace their clothing. As an adjunct project in collaboration with Susie, our innkeeper here at the Posada de Sanitago, the Bridges mentors made donations to purchase looms for the families to weave their own huipiles. Our donations inspired others at the Posada to donate, and Susie collected enough Quetzales to purchase looms and thread for 33 families. The local Catholic Priest responded with some money from his budget, and the project has now taken a life of its own with Susie as the coordinator.

Traditional Clothing

2005-10-24T16:03:00.000-07:00

Water is becoming more available, and there is plenty of food. The major shortage seems to be clothing. The women wear these incredible blouses called “huipiles” that are made from a loomed strip of fabric sewn together in the middle to form a poncho-like garment which is then sew up the sides to create two half sleeves. The least expensive huipiles cost about $80.00 minimum, and mostly they are $150.00. An expensive huipile may take a person about six months to make and cost over $300.00. The “corte” is a wrap-around skirt much like an African pania, made from a similar loomed cloth but in a more colorful, graphic weave. Embroidery makes the price so variable, but also identifies the pueblo or tribe of the wearer, and so is an important feature. “Peraje” is a small shawl often worn over the shoulder, and is just a fashion statement much of the time because it is pretty.

The Market Reopens

2005-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Santiago de Atitlan is emerging from the shock of disaster and community activities are resuming. The process seemed to accelerate today when the major Thursday Mercado opened. The pueblo filled with people gathering to trade the market goods necessary for daily life, and trade goods such as avocados. Mountains of avocados began arriving yesterday afternoon and by this morning the vendors had filled half of the town square with fresh avocados in rope nets called “redes.”

The Hospital

2005-10-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

Schools have closed early because the buildings are being used to house people who have lost their homes. Some churches have been converted to shelters. One of the primary hospitals is destroyed and is now relocating to a new site. The primary roads have been plowed (to remove mud and debris) and are now open. People who still have homes and fields go off to work daily. Children are seen playing soccer or tag in the streets, helping parents in the fields, carrying and caring for younger siblings. There is a group of young girls who sit near our hotel every day making small animal key chains of beads. Other children sit on the edge of the street selling fruits or vegetables. Every road has children and adults carrying wood and water containers on their backs and heads. Life here is not easy, but life goes on.

There is talk in the community of the increased pollution in the lake and the need to boil water. This prompts hope that people will band together to improve the disposal of trash and waste to reduce the general pollution of the area.
More soon.

Las Cajas

2005-10-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Nearly a hundred people are confirmed dead and today, two weeks after the tragedy, close to eight hundred people remain missing and are presumed dead. Many of those who survived in Panabaj lost everything – clothing, pots and pans, farm tools, beds and other furniture, and food supplies. The Panabaj community was very poor before the tragedy. Now, they face an even tougher struggle. Clean water, safe food, health care, education, and homes are all in short supply.

Communities throughout the Santiago, Atitlán region are in the midst of recovery. There are thousands of people in shelters. Many families have taken in ten, twelve, or twenty friends, relatives, and neighbors.
Sadness, grief, and a sense of trauma from the massive loss are prevalent. At the same time, one notes the grace and sense of resiliency within the people. Both realities exist. There is a deep sense of commitment to move forward and support each other. There is uncertainty and tragedy. There is hope and beauty.

Rescue Efforts

2005-10-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

Volunteer rescue workers, the Guatemalan government, and relief resources from countries throughout the world responded. There were some joyful, uplifting stories - the emergency team saved a number of fortunate survivors. Unfortunately, though, the power and scope of this tragedy made search and recovery extremely difficult. Thick mud prevented rescue teams from locating hundreds of missing people. After days of frantic effort, an escalating threat of disease, and other challenges, the ground that had been known as the community of Panabaj was declared a massive cemetery.

Mudslide Buries Panabaj

2005-10-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

In early October of this year, Gutemala and other regions in Central America experienced the full power of Hurricane Stan. Torrential rain and wind continued for a solid week. In coastal areas and the mountains around Antigua and Lake Atitlán, rivers overflowed and floods covered much of the landscape. Bridges and roads washed away. Dozens of towns and cities were cut off from electricity, clean water, transportation routes, and food.

In the midst of this devastation, in the middle of the night, a portion of a dormant volcano near the town of Santiago, Atitlán broke loose and slid rapidly down the volcano’s steep slope. This created a powerful slide of mud and debris that overwhelmed the nearby community of Panabaj. Hundreds of people were buried alive. Families were torn apart. Almost all of the community’s farmland and infrastructure were lost.

Bridges in Guatemala

2005-10-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

Eight adults – five Bridges’ volunteers from the States and three from Guatemala – and eleven young Guatemalans from FotoKids (an NGO that has been working in Guatemala for the past 14 years) are working together in Santiago, Atitlán, an area that was greatly affected by Hurricane Stan.

Many families here lost their homes, friends and relatives due to the floods and mudslides. Fortunately, none of the Bridges’ students lost family members in the recent disaster but all have relatives and/or friends who lost their homes and are now living in shelters. The images accompanying this report were taken by some of the Bridges’ students; the next dispatch we will have some reports from the students.

Futbol Finals

2005-09-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

Oscar, Irwin and Jose Antonio are on the select soccer team for their colegio. They are in the semi-finals and the game today is an important one. If they win they will go on to play the team in Aguas Calientes and have the opportunity to visit Macchu Picchu. We travel to the remote little village of Chilca on the team bus, sharing the anticipation and the nervousness. Once in Chilca, most of the spectators are supporting the other team – my favorite is a tiny lamb wearing a beaded crucifix around its neck. The weather’s changing with black clouds, wind and rain rolling in from the jungle. Used to the constant sunshine of Ollantaytambo, we’re dressed in t-shirts and just manage to hang on while our boys win the game 5 – 0. Onto Macchu Picchu!
Susan

Tom with Hawk

2005-09-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

This incredible photo was taken by Ralph Widman who captured this hawk landing next to Tom on the top of Wanu Picchu.

An Afternoon in the Chicha Bar

2005-08-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

This is the 7th Bridges workshop that I have participated in since I founded the Bridges program four years ago. Here in Ollantaytambo chicha is central to the social life. The maize or corn is cooked and fermented for 3 days by the women. Maberic, one of the Bridges students, works with her mother to prepare and serve the chicha to the neighbors that gather in their home. The chicha bars remind me of the old pubs in the countryside of England where adults, children, and pets all meet to share stories of the day’s events, and dance and sing. Here, Cynthia, one of the Bridges mentors, dances with Maria, Maberic’s mother, the head chicha maker.
Phil

More in the Polaroid Series

2005-08-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

When we were walking down the street a mother ran up to us and asked Dad to take a picture of her son. I took these pictures of the shoot. Below is the Mom getting ready for the picture, straightening up her son's poncho. Even though the young boy looks like he's seen better pictures, his Mom was very happy.
Mariko

An Ollantaytambo Girl

2005-08-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Phil Borges set up a photo demonstration with this little girl on one of the streets of Ollantaytambo. We gave her Oreos and chocolate chip cookies but she was a very good business woman and held out for “un sol” from each of us. A budding entrepreneur.
Cynthia

Working on Our Movies

2005-08-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

The laptop lab is the place to be every late afternoon as we are all working hard to edit our photographs and put together multi-media pieces in Adobe Premiere. Katy, Kenner, Julee and Dina are working on a movie about the work that several of our students do to support their families.
Susan

Cow's Head

2005-08-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

This picture of a severed cow's head was taken by one of our own Peruvian students, Teresa, at the local market. This is not an unusal sight in Peru and most of South America, but many of the Americans were taken aback from it.
Written by Gilad
Picture by Teresa

Mountain Biking in the Andes

2005-08-19T14:55:00.000-07:00

Towards the last leg of our journey, we decided to go one morning on a bike ride. We got up real early in the morning and took a three hour van ride, up to the top of the mountains. We went up to fourteen and a half thousand feet. There was snow all around us, and if we looked down, we could see the jungle on the other side.
Gilad and Lucas

My Father Working as a Porter

2005-08-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

Este es un foto de mi padre. El trabaja como un portero en el Inka Trail. Es trabajo muy duro pero el dinero que el gana es esencial para mi familia. Mi padre gana 100 soles por cuatro dias llevando equipje para los turistos. This photo is of my father. He works as a porter on the Inca Trail. The work is very hard but the money that he earns is essential for my family. My father earns 100 soles (about $30) for four days of work carrying equipment for the tourists.
Teresa

Felix the Potter

2005-08-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite photos. Felix is working in the Museo's pottery studio and the light coming in through the translucent ceiling is perfect. Next time we come to Peru I'm hoping to take ceramics lessons in this same studio.
Mariko

My Friends on a Donkey

2005-08-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

Esta foto estan mis companeros del colegio que se llaman Joel y Efrain, estan montados en un burrito que estuvo en el lugar que comia mi caballo. This photo is of my friends from school, Joel and Efrain who are on top of a burro in the same place where I am feeding my horse.
Aderly
This photo was taken while we were on a photo-shoot documenting Irvin and Aderly's daily work. All of our Peruvian students work to help support their families and during this workshop they are putting together a series of digital stories about their jobs.

Exploring the Incan Graneries

2005-08-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

The second day that I was here Jose Antonio took me up to the old graneries built by the Incas in the mountains above town. There was an awesome view, but the best part was finding baby goats up there.
Lucas

Girls at the Festival in Pisac

2005-08-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

We spent a day at the Festival of the Virgen Carmen, a religious festival which is celebrated in the Cuzco region of Peru. It involves four days of continuous dancing with special masses held on behalf of the Virgen. My favorite photos were ones taken of the young dancers just before or after their dances. Bonnie and Steve found their way into several private parties where they were invited to eat, dance and drink cerveza.
Susan

Dancing at the Festival in Rumira

2005-08-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate to be in Peru during the Festival of the Virgin Carmen. It was such a great photo opportunity, but, for me, the best part was that it was a lovely time to participate in the celebration with the locals. I think that a trip with Bridges is special because of occasions such as this. We are in the community for a longer period of time and working with children and adults who are willing to share their world with us. We have so many opportunities to see and experience things that most tourist would never know about. It’s a very personal and unique experience.
Julee

At the Festival

2005-08-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Estoy en la iglesia de Rumira para la Fiesta de la Virgin del Carmen, estoy tomando fotos en las velas. Here I am in the church in Rumira (a small village a couple of miles from Ollantaytambo) for the Festival of the Virgen of Carmen. I am taking photos of the candles.
Dina

Portrait of a Woman in a Chichareria

2005-08-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

We did a little movie on the making of chicha, the local fermented corn beer and went to a local chichareria where local people go to hang out and chat. I was surprised to see lots of women taking a break from work. I bought several rounds of chichas for all the people and this woman wanted her portrait taken.
Cynthia

The Best Picture Yet

2005-08-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

This Polaroid just might be the best picture I've ever taken. Look at those smiles!
John

John's Polaroid Project

2005-08-10T09:18:00.000-07:00

I bought a new Polaroid camera off the internet and my project for Peru was to take pictures of people who might not have many pictures of themselves. My first day out I meet a three day old baby and a happy Mom.
John

The Top of Wana Picchu

2005-08-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo by Steve of Mariko and Lucas on the top of Wana Picchu on our trip to Macchu Picchu. It's a straight up and down climb and if you fall off you don't stop for many thousands of feet. Madeline, Ian, Steve, Sean, Ralph, both Toms, Kenner, Julee and John all made it to the top.

Irvin and his Horse

2005-08-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

En esta foto estoy con mi caballo le estoy dando de comer paja, y en este lugar come mi caballo todos los dias. In this photo I am with my horse giving him hay to eat. I feed my horse everyday in this same place.
Irvin

Our New Laptop Lab

2005-08-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever, we have enough computers for the students to all get plenty of hands-on time editing their photographs, writing their stories and learning Photoshop. The kids are loving it and we all send a big thank-you to Microsoft for their gift of our new lab.
Susan

Returning from Huilloc

2005-08-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Aqui estamos encima de un carro regresando a Ollantaytambo despues de un dia de paseo a Huilloc. Me diverti mucho y aprendi a tomar fotografias con algunos nuevos trucos con luz.
Here we are on top of the truck returning to Ollantaytambo after spending the day in Huilloc (a small weaving village high in the Andes). I enjoyed myself very much and learned to take photographs with new tricks with the light.
Dina (with Irvin, Gisela and Teresa)

Woman in the Salt Mines

2005-08-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Families who live in a little pueblo called Moray each own plots at a natural salt mine above Urubamba. My mother used to talk about working in the salt mines but I always envisioned some dank place in Siberia – not a place where heat radiates off a white moonscape and people carry two hundred pound bags of still-wet salt on their backs.
Cynthia

Victoria

2005-08-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Victoria is a photographer and a medical doctor who is splitting her time in Peru working as a volunteer mentor for Bridges and as a volunteer doctor in the barrios of Lima. Victoria is particularly interested in digital stories about health care, both traditional and modern, in Ollantaytambo.

Tom M

2005-08-04T16:46:00.000-07:00

I am a aspiring photographer who came to Bridges to learn more about photographing people.
Through photography, I would like to show people of different countries that there are many people
(children) in this world that need our help and support. It is my goal to bring awareness to the many diverse cultures of this world so we both can learn from one another.

Tom B

2005-08-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tom Booster is a Microsoft software engineer who works on the Visio. He came to Bridges from Seattle with his wife, Cynthia Hartwig, and his daughter, Madeleine Booster. “Bridges is a great opportunity to pass along a cultural experience to my daughter and learn more about photography,” says Tom. “Microsoft just made a $16,000 donation of computers to Bridges, which makes me especially proud to be associated with a company that gets behind programs that encourage cultural exchange.”

Teresa

2005-08-04T16:15:00.000-07:00

Teresa is one of the original Bridges students and she is entering her third year in our program. Even though Teresa lives in a small farming community an hour's walk from Ollantaytambo she is one of our most committed students. She is part of a large family with eleven siblings and works hard on her family's farm.

Susan

2005-08-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

Susan Olivier Hirasawa is really pleased to be joined in Ollantaytambo by her family, John, Lucas and Mariko. As Executive Director of Bridges she co-teaches all of the Seattle workshops and many of the international workshops. “This is my second year working in Peru and it is great to see our Peruvian students again…they’re growing in size and talent and are wonderfully affectionate and welcoming hosts. It’s particularly satisfying to see my own kids make friendships which I hope will last a lifetime.”

Steve

2005-08-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Steven Baughman recently graduated from Cornish College of the Arts where he worked with Bridges to produce an interactive eZine for his senior thesis. Steve is interested in using technology to enhance understanding between communities. In the fall Steve will be moving to NYC to become a graduate student in the Design & Technology department at Parsons School of Design.

Sean

2005-08-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

Sean Duggan is a great photographer, Photoshop wizard, author of a number books on both digital photography and Photoshop and creator of the Quechua/Irish Umbrella Dance. This is Sean's second summer in Peru, working with our students and co-teaching the Bridges workshop.

Ralph

2005-08-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

Ralph Widman is a professional photographer from Seattle, Washington. This is his second Bridges workshop and he is looking forward to working with our Peruvian students. Ralph loves the wilderness and is also pleased to be in the heart of the Incan Andes.

Phil

2005-08-04T16:01:00.000-07:00

For over 25 years Phil Borges has been visiting and documenting indigenous and tribal cultures around the world. Through his projects, he strives to create a heightened understanding of the issues faced by people in the developing world. Phil’s photographs have been collected and exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide. His award winning books have been published in four languages. Phil has hosted three television documentaries for Discovery and National Geographic as a part of a series that investigates indigenous cultures that still maintain a spiritual dialogue with the natural world.
Phil’s current project, Stiring the Fire, introduces some of the extraordinary women in the developing world that are breaking through gender barriers and biases in order to enhance their well being and the well being of their communities. You can see Phil’s work at www.philborges.com

Pericles

2005-08-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Like Oscar, Pericles just joined the Bridges program and has become one of our most enthusiastic students. Pericles is also a soccer player.

Oscar

2005-08-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Oscar joined the Bridges program this July. Although he is one of our newest students he is also one of the most enthusiastic. Oscar is fourteen years old and he plans to combine two of his passions in this workshop; he will be working on a multi-media piece about his soccer team's progress through the regional semi-finals.

Mark

2005-08-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

We are very fortunate to have Mark Christal join us for several days in Ollaytaytambo. Mark is the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian's virtual museum expert and we plan to work with him to create a series of 360 degree panoramas of Ollantaytambo.

Mariko

2005-08-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

My name is Mariko Hirasawa. I’m sixteen years old, a senior at Garfield High School. I love art, but need improvement in photography and Spanish. I’ve been a mentor for three years at a local elementary school teaching saxophone and am enjoying being a Bridges mentor as well. I’m having lots of fun learning with the Peruvian students here in Ollantaytambo.

Madeline

2005-08-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Madeleine Booster is a 15-year old sophomore at Mercer Island High School. Madeleine is an avid soccer player and is interested in art, cooking and drawing. She is new to photography. She attended the first Bridges session from July 1 – 12 and learned a lot about photo composition and using her Spanish to work with Peruvian students. She particularly likes the discoteca here in Ollantaytambo.

Maberic

2005-08-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

Maberic is fourteen years old and she has been involved with the Bridges program for almost three years. Maberic is interested in becoming a cosmetologist. After school she works each day in her family's chicheria, a traditional bar where people gather to drink chicha, a mild alchoholic beverage, and socialize.

Lucas

2005-08-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

Lucas Hirasawa is fourteen years old, a self-proclaimed genius and will be a freshman at Garfield High School this fall. In the last year Lucas has taken up filmmaking and is the only member of our team who is shooting video, as well as still photography. He is having a lot of fun hanging out with local kids playing soccer, basketball and making friends.

Kylie

2005-08-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

Kylie is sixteen years old and a high school student from Massachussetts. Next year, Kylie plans to begin a photographic program in a school for at-risk students in South Africa and is very interested in learning what elements of the Bridges program might work in Soweto.

Kristen

2005-08-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Kristen Atwood and her daughter Kylie are joining the workshop interested in deepening their skills in digital photography and working directly with our Quechua students. Kristen is a founding member of City Year, one of the United State's largest non-profit organizations devoted to community service for young people. Kristen is a mother of four and everyone in our group sends a big thank you to the rest of the family for sending her.

Kenner

2005-08-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

Kenner Cornejo is Bridges' Site Coordinator and teacher based in Ollantaytambo. Kenner has worked with Bridges for three years and brings a passion for Quechua culture, anthropology and Incan history to his work with our Peruvian students.

Katy

2005-08-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Katy is fourteen years old and she has been an active participant in the Bridges program for over two years. When she grows up Katy wants to become a detective and tourist guide. Before school every morning, Katy helps her mother cook breakfast in a stall in the local market.

Julee

2005-08-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

As the wife of Bridges founder, Phil Borges, Julee Geier has been involved with Bridges since it began. Currently filling the role of bookkeeper and volunteer coordinator, Julee is looking forward to being more involved as a mentor at the international sites.

Joyce

2005-08-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

Joyce Yarrow is a writer and musician with a background in multimedia performance. She has also taught media production to young people and has a novel being published this summer.

Jose Antonio

2005-08-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Jose Antonio is one of the original students in the Bridges program. He is fourteen years old and plays soccer on his school's select team. Jose Antonio is particularly interested in working and playing with the students from North America.

John

2005-08-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

John Hirasawa is a musician and sound engineer who works in the construction industry. John is a member of the Hopi tribe and a core Hopi belief is that the Hopi migrated in the four directions – he is very interested in the similarities and differences between the Quechua and the Hopi and is always looking for distant relatives. John has been an active volunteer in Bridges, hosting our Seattle workshops in his home and recording our soundtracks in his studio.

Irwin

2005-08-04T14:45:00.000-07:00

Irwin is thirteen years old and has been with the Bridges program for two years. He is a good student with a particular interest in history, a soccer player and he spends his time after school helping out on his family farm. Irwin is responsible for taking care of his family's animals.

Iris

2005-08-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

An artist, photographer and teacher at Garfield High School in Seattle, Iris is joining Bridges for her first workshop. She brings her creative teaching style and a lot of energy to our project.

Ian

2005-08-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ian is a sophomore from Nova High School in Seattle. Ian is interested in learning about digital photography, Peruvian culture and meeting Peruvian students.

Gisela

2005-08-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Gisela was one of the original Bridges students in Peru. She's becoming a photographer and an accomplished storyteller. As one of the more fluent Quechua speakers in our group Gisela is a natural choice to narrate digital stories in Quechua. Gisela turns 15 years old during the workshop and we're looking forward to a party!

Gilad

2005-08-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Gilad Amitai is a first generation American of Israeli parents. Gilad has shot in black and white film and is new to digital photography but taking to it like the proverbial duck to water. Gilad plays the saxophone and clarinet and will be playing at the Rose Parade this January with the Mercer Island High School band. “I really like experiencing the culture here in Peru and working with the kids. Thanks Mom and Dad.”

Geronimo

2005-08-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

Although no longer an official Bridges student, Geronimo was still involved with our workshop this summer even though he was working two jobs. Geronimo is nineteen years old and wants to be an anthropologist. He is very interested in Incan history and besides working on his family farm, Geronimo works at the local museum in Ollantaytambo.

Dina

2005-08-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Dina has been one of the most active Bridges students for the last three years. She is fourteen, speaks Quechua and Spanish, wants to be a doctor helps support her family by selling soft drinks to buses that pass through Ollantaytambo. Dina has been involved in creating several multi-media pieces.

Devis

2005-08-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Devis is fourteen years old. His favorite subject is mathematics because it helps him to think. After school Devis plays both soccer and helps his family by working in construction. This is his second year in Bridges; last year he worked on a project on Water in Ollantaytambo.

Cynthia

2005-08-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Hartwig is a fiction writer. She sold her first short story to Francis Ford Coppola and is at work on a literary novel about life in a Serpentarium. In her paying life, she’s an advertising creative consultant who has worked with Kenworth Trucks, LA Cellular, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Seattle Opera. Cynthia is a Bridges board member and traveled to Takaungu with Bridges last October.

Cinthya

2005-08-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

Cintyha wants to be a doctor and has been involved with the Bridges program for over two years. She is fourteen years old and like the majority of our Bridges students speaks both Quechua and Spanish.

Bonnie

2005-08-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Bonnie Lebesch is an artist and new media designer with a background in photography and video. She has published interactive content for children and is currently teaching college students. Bonnie is equally excited to be working with Phil on her photography and with the Peruvian students on their photography.

Bihoa

2005-08-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

Bihoa is on her third Bridges workshop where she has worked with students in Seattle, India and Peru. She is the principal of one of Bridges' most active sites, Aki Kurose Middle School in South Seattle and is a member of the Bridges Board of Directors. Bihoa is a photographer, world traveler and a passionate advocate for the children she works with.

Aderly

2005-08-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Aderly is fourteen years old and he has been involved with the Bridges program for two years. He plays football and enjoys mathematics. Aderly is bi-lingual speaking both Spanish and Quechua. Last summer he worked with Bridges on a multi-media project on Incan artefacts that was partially funded through the Smithsonian museum.

Introducing the Team

2005-07-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

Our project is to create an interactive, immersive photographic portrait of the town of Ollantaytambo, Peru. Working on this project will be an international team of students, photographers, teachers, writers and software developers. Meet our team.

Welcome to the Bridges Blog!

2005-06-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the new Bridges Blog. Here you can read about what's happening in our current workshops. Participants will post updates and photos, showing us the inside view of a Bridges workshop. Plus, you will have the chance to respond to all posts by using the comment button below.

Look forward to new entries from our Peru workshop in just a few days!