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Monday, June 11, 2012

Pierluisi Urges Perseverance and Discipline to Photojournalism Workshop Participants

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi met today with students from the Photojournalism Workshop Summer Camp, a nonprofit organization recognized for its use of technology as a tool for the development of educational and labor skills.

“Be persistent in the pursuit of your dreams. Find your niche in life and be happy doing something that motivates and fulfills you. If you are going to be a journalist, be the best journalist you can be. If you are going to be a photographer, be the best photographer you can be. If you are going to be a lawyer, then strive to be the best lawyer you can. Learn all that you can because education is necessary to achieve your goals. Work to improve your academic qualifications. It is important to work hard. I’m confident you can do this,” said the Resident Commissioner to the students.

The Workshop Summer Camp offers free classes in photography, video, graphic design, Internet, writing, and cutting-edge computer programs, among other things. The seminars are primarily aimed at students between 7 and 18 years of age.

Currently, about 1,600 children ages 7 to 13 in the municipalities of San Juan, Vieques, Vega Alta, Barranquitas and Coamo are participating in the summer program, which exposes students to theater, fine arts, sports, dance, and music in addition to core curriculum courses. The students also visit places of interest where they are able to develop their photography skills and subsequently work on their photographs using Photoshop.

The curriculum offered to older participants ages 14-18 focuses on preparing them for their professional lives. It is supplemented by a series of lectures presented by several public figures, including the Resident Commissioner, who spoke about his educational and professional experiences and provided advice to the students.

Since 1994, the Photojournalism Workshop has assembled journalists and photographers to teach young students about the importance of developing creativity, leadership and other skills through communications, technology and art. Over 25,000 students from all over the Island have participated in this workshop to date.

“The work that we have done in this Photojournalism Workshop, with Ismaelito Fernández as its captain, is extraordinary. This program and these students can always count on my support,” said Pierluisi.