Campus Photography Training

The encounter between two Paiwan tribal girls and Lin Ximing, former director of the United Daily News Photography Center (聯合報前攝影中心主任林錫銘), on a train led to the initiation of the "Donate Your Used Digital Camera, Campus Photography Training” campaign in November 2011. Originally, the goal was to collect 50 cameras, but unexpectedly, over 4,000 cameras were donated. After sorting and testing by volunteers, these cameras were distributed to more than a hundred elementary schools on the east coast of Taiwan. At the same time, photographers were recruited to teach at schools, inspiring children's passion for photography. The unique angles from the children’s lenses continuously produced astonishing works. Many children gained affirmation, boosting their confidence that had long been undermined in their academic pursuits.

At the end of 2012, O-Bank responded to the initiative by donating 140 brand-new digital cameras. Through visits, ACF selected seven schools in the Hualien and Taitung regions and invited 12 photographers from Taichung, Hualien, and Taitung cities to launch the "Campus Photography Training." After a year of companionship and weekly photography classes lasting half a semester, the volunteers guided the children to explore, observe, and think through the lens of a camera.

In the second half of 2013, school teachers began attempting to teach photography on their own. Gradually progressing from unfamiliarity to proficiency, teachers gained confidence through the feedback provided by the children. The photography classes officially became a part of campus life, allowing teachers to lead students in using images to document their lives.

In 2014, ACF reoriented our focus towards "teacher training," "experience sharing," and "sustainable growth." Utilizing teacher training workshops, ACF encouraged educators to integrate photography into their teaching. This initiative also emphasized using child-friendly language in instruction.

By early 2015, collaborations with corporations like TSMC in Hsinchu and the Yue Yuen Education Foundation in Taichung were established. These partnerships involved forming volunteer teams to teach photography in local schools, helping children explore their environments through the lens of a camera. Our aim is to encourage more corporate and foundation involvement in rural photography education, integrating cameras into school activities and allowing children to capture their world with authenticity and emotion.

After five years of dedicated work in the Hualien and Taitung areas, the " Campus Photography Training" expanded into the New Taipei area in 2017 with a comprehensive three-semester curriculum. The project's success in New Taipei led to its extension to six additional schools in New Taipei and Yilan by 2019. 

Our expanded goals include:

• Aesthetic Education: Teaching students to observe and capture beauty through photography.
• Curriculum Development: Establishing 8-10 comprehensive lesson plans to standardize teaching and ensure quality.
• Experience Sharing: Facilitating a mentorship approach in photography teaching, empowering school teachers to develop their own photography programs.
• SOP Construction: Developing administrative procedures and volunteer training models to facilitate project implementation.
• Corporate CSR: Involving corporate employees in school-related activities and promoting student-created art in corporate settings.
• Resource Integration: Encouraging collaboration across various sectors to enrich the project, expanding its reach and impact.