ART & CULTURE

Give a child who's gone through difficult times a camera and-despite feelings of loss, alienation and upheaval-the images that often emerge depict hope.

Such is the stuff of an exhibition called INTER+SECTIONS, opening June 4 along University Avenue between 40th and 54th streets. The public-arts project features photos and text by refugee youth living in City Heights.

“This is a celebration of my sister's first communion,” wrote 16-year-old Nick, whose work will be on display in the exhibit. His words accompany a black and white photo of three young brothers in suits, leaning against a car in a church parking lot. “Church is important to my family; they go to church to live better lives. In Sudan it was sometimes difficult to pursue your faith and dreams. My family came to America to fulfill that dream for their children at any cost.”

As a caption to another photo, Nick wrote, “After church children gather together with friends and play games so time flies.” The photograph features a family, smiling and playful, sitting on a bench in the shade of a tree. “They come to church to pray and trade good news with each other and also make plans for next Sunday. A positive attitude in life can go far and that's the goal everyone seeks.”

Helping these kids go far in life is also the goal of the AjA Project, the organization presenting INTER+SECTIONS. AjA is a Spanish acronym that stands for “supporting self-sufficiency.” The AjA Project, a San Diego nonprofit, was created in 2000 to empower refugee and underprivileged youth through photography-based educational programs.

The exhibition, which will include 100 photos, 80 banners and six photo murals, is part of Journey, one of three international programs run by AjA (the others are in Thailand and Colombia). The after-school program teaches kids between the ages of 10 to 16 basic photography skills and how to analyze their surroundings through the lens of a camera.

“We use photography, video and other media arts to let them tell stories of where they come from, how they got here and what their lives are like here in San Diego,” said Summer Lopez, AjA Project vice president.

The students' photographs and accompanying text tell stories of resettlement, immigration and assimilation. Many of the children's families were uprooted by war or forced from their homes by racial, religious or ethnic persecution. They come from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.

“Photography is universal-images have no language barriers,” Lopez said. “At the same time, I think it allows them to say things they wouldn't necessarily be comfortable saying in words or other formats. It gives them a unique way to express themselves.”

It's already been shown that arts education teaches children to express themselves creatively, bolsters self-confidence, encourages tolerance and improves overall academic performance. But particularly for these young refugees-who often struggle in school because English isn't their first language and they've been thrown into an unfamiliar environment-a program like AjA's can be transformative, said Lopez.

The program teaches students important computer skills, and fosters critical thinking, self-discovery and community exploration. Through a three-semester curriculum and various exhibitions, the students get lots of positive reinforcement and gain confidence.

“It gives them a way to honor the experiences they've had,” Lopez said, “and recognize that those experiences are a really important part of what they bring to who they are becoming as adults-and to the community as well, that these are valuable stories to share and honor.”

All of the photographs in the exhibition were taken by current and former Journey students who live in City Heights, perhaps the most diverse neighborhood in San Diego County. These are kids who are more accustomed to being in front of the camera-as subjects for photojournalists snapping pictures at refugee camps.

“To put that ability to document their stories in the hands of people in the community, particularly the young people, is empowering for whole community,” Lopez said. INTER+SECTIONS “is a great way for the community to put their own story forward and share that with the rest of San Diego. It'll give City Heights a lot to be proud of, because their young people are doing something really special.”

INTER+SECTIONS kicks off Saturday, June 4, coinciding with the 13th Annual City Heights International Village Celebration, and will be on display through August in storefronts, exterior walls and fences along University Avenue between 40th and 54th streets. Associated events include an opening reception at Springfield College on June 4, a student presentation at USD's Institute for Peace and Justice on June 8, a month-long exhibition at the Warp 9 gallery in North Park and a five-gallery show and fund-raiser on Ray Street on June 25. Check out www.ajaproject.org.