Student Uses Photography to Help Refugee Youth Transition to Life in the U.S.

HOUGHTON, N.Y. —“Photography has long been used to document the lives of marginalized communities. Providing cameras to individuals within identified communities enables them to record and share their life as only they know it,” said Claire Essley, a junior at Houghton College.

Photography became the catalyst for her project, “Through a Refugee Lens: Communicating Through Photography,” that won an award at the 42nd Annual TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) International Convention in New York City.

As part of Arts Bridging Cultures, a summer education and enrichment program for recently arrived refugee youth in Buffalo, N.Y., Essley worked with 13-17 year old refugees to document various aspects of their life through photography. Through the camera lens the youth not only expressed their transition to life in the U.S., but also personal challenges, impressions of life in the U.S.,  hopes and aspirations for the future, and a sense of self.

“Many people see immigrant and refugee students and see what they don’t have: English. What many people don’t see is what they already have. Yes, they need English, but they can learn the language through meaningful communication. I can teach them see spot run, or I can help them teach each other about their diverse community and shared humanity. My job is only to help them find the words, because they already have the stories,” said Essley.

Over a four-week period the students worked on various components of the project, which resulted in a book for each student that contained their photographs, journal entries, collages, and other artwork. “The purpose of the book is to give refugee youth an opportunity to express themselves through a medium other than the spoken language, to more confidently facilitate their transition to life in the U.S., and to improve their interactions with others in their school and community,” said Essley.  

Essley, from Rochester, N.Y., is a TESOL and intercultural studies major at Houghton College. She will be the first TESOL graduate of Houghton College in May 2009.