Project Istwa

Project Istwa is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of self-empowerment, awareness and self-expression of Haitian youth through the use of photography. Founded by Linda D. Thélémaque and Fiona Korwin-Pawlowski in 2011, the project was inspired by their experiences working together on several medical missions in Haiti in the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake. Ms. Thélémaque first discovered the concept of photovoice while obtaining her Masters of Public Health at Brooklyn College and thought that the implementation of this special method of participatory photography in Haiti was a necessary measure. The founders feel that due to the large youth population in Haiti and the potential positive role of youth in Haiti’s future it is especially important to amplify what youth want to communicate on behalf of themselves and their communities. The roots of Project Istwa lie in the original photovoice approach that uses photography and narrative as both a tool of self-expression and advocacy within marginalized communities. Project Istwa also incorporates youth and community development components. Each workshop is tailored as specifically as possible to each individual group of participants in order to reflect community’s context. For more information please go to