Our Mission
Barefoot Workshops is a media based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization where adults and youth are taught video, photography, music, and art as a way to document their surroundings, make change in the world, and most importantly, make change within themselves. With Barefoot, growing and learning as an artist means growing and learning as an individual. Read more
What we do:
- Empower youth through media, music and the arts
- Bridge communities together to address global issues
- Inspire individuals and communities to transform themselves from within
- Innovate new uses of media to meet development goals internationally
Latest News
4.25.08
A River Blue - Field Volunteers!
A River Blue will host two field volunteers this summmer. Check back soon for more information!!
4.23.08
Delta 08 Workshop / Student's Blog.
Read up on what Amy Benson had to say about her experience in the Delta 08 Workshop via Nonfiction Media's blog page.
4.18.08
Delta 08 Workshop / Newspaper Articles.
Read two wonderful articles written about Barefoot's Mississippi Delta 2008 workshop - Jackson, Mississippi's Jackson Free Press and Memphis, Tenneessee's Tri-State Defender.
3.18.08
Delta 08 film - Crossing All Boundaries.
Crossing All Boundaries, a film by Rebecca Parrish and Brooke Bassin, has been accepted into the Tallahassee Film Festival and the Chicago Short Film Brigade.
4.14.08
Vote for Delta 08 videos on Current TV.
Motherload of Trophies, a film by Karim Amara and Kristen Daly. Crossing All Boundaries, a film by Rebecca Parrish and Brooke Bassin.
3.31.08
Mississippi Delta film screens.
The 5th Annual Langston Hughes African-American Film Festival in Seattle, Washington, selects "Called to Shine," a Mississippi Delta workshop production by Amy Benson and Chris Thompson, for screening in April 2008.
3.29.08
Mississippi Delta films - Crossroads Film Festival.
All five videos from the Delta 08 workshop will screen at the Crossroads Film Festival April 5th. Click HERE for more information.
3.01.08
Mississippi Delta workshop - Success.
Delta workshop wraps with amazing success. Keep checking for videos to be posted soon.
2.22.08
Barefoot in the Mississippi Delta.
Students begin shooting 7 documentaries.
2.14.08
A River Blue website.
New website is launched for A River Blue.
2.17.08
Barefoot in the Mississippi Delta.
12 students arrived in the Clarksdale, Mississippi to begin 2 week workshop.
2.5.08
A River Blue kids are selected for vocational training.
20 ARB kids have been selected for the vocational training program which includes English, tailoring, agriculture and business.
2.4.08
A River Blue kids start secondary school.
30 ARB kids have been selected and are now supported with secondary school fees.
2.1.08
A River Blue
Renovation of ARB Vocational Training Center is complete. Check back soon to see pictures.
1.13.08
Classroom renovation begins in Northern Uganda
Classrooms will be complete in two weeks allowing 20 students to begin vocational training in tailoring. Argiculuture education will also be taught to the students. 30 additional students will be sponsored in secondary school.
1.11.08
A River Blue NEWS
Chandler Griffin and Brooke Bassin arrive in Northern Uganda.
12.20.07
Barefoot on FACEBOOK
Barefoot recently set up a FACEBOOK page. Check us out and join the Group.
12.19.07
Middle East program wraps/YouTube posts
On December 18th Barefoot wrapped the Jordan workshop which concludes the Middle East programs for 2007. 40 videos have been uploaded to YouTube . Check them out and Join Us!
12.16.07
Amman, Jordan screening
On December 18th, from 3-4 p.m., representatives from seven Jordanian nongovernmental organizations will hold a screening at Le Meridien Hotel in Amman, celebrating a series of locally-created public service announcements (PSAs). The event marks the finale of two back-to-back workshops in Kuwait and Jordan, entitled Media, Activism and Democracy. Please email alison.fast@barefootworkshops.org for more details and instructions on how to attend.
12.15.07
A River Blue updates
A River Blue receives field program funding. Chandler will be traveling to Northern Uganda in early January to begin renovation on ARB Vocational Training Center and pay secondary school fees for 30 kids.
12.14.07
Barefoot in Jordan
Jordan workshop is in the middle of production and will begin editing on Sunday. Final screening on Tuesday. Contact alison.fast@barefootworkshops.org for more information.
12.12.07
Barefoot Kuwait on CNBC
Public Service Announcments from Barefoot's Kuwait Workshop were highlighted on CNBC Arabia along with interviews from the final screening in Kuwait City.
12.08.07
Barefoot Kuwait online news
Click here to read a Barefoot in Kuwait online story in the news.
12.07.07
Barefoot in Jordan
Barefoot gears up to head to Jordan on Saturday.
12.06.07
Kuwait workshop update
Kuwait workshop wraps up with 10 completed PSAs (public service announcements) which will be posted shortly.
11.19.07
Barefoot gears up for the Middle East.
Chandler and Alison will leave on Thursday to begin workshops in Kuwait and Jordan.
11.08.07
Baton Rouge workshop begins.
A ten day workshop at Scotlandville highschool begins for kids who were displaced by Katrina. They will be making videos to speak back to their community.
11.07.07
Barefoot welcomed by Mayor of Baton Rouge.
Chandler Griffin and Alison Fast were welcomed to Baton Rouge at a screening tonight.
11.06.07
Powershift 2007 videos.
Barefoot worked with 10 college students at Powershift 2007 and produced 2 short videos. Click to watch.
11.02.07
Sign up NOW for Documentary workshop.
Experiencing the Mississippi Delta workshop is half full. Email and sign-up before we fill the class.
11.01.07
Barefoot gears up for youth empowerment workshop.
Barefoot Workshops will be running a 10 day Video Workshop for youth living in Renaissance Village. Check back for details as we begin the program.
10.31.07
Barefoot at Power Shift 2007 this weekend.
Barefoot Workshops will be running youth workshops at Power Shift 2007. Visit the Power Shift 2007 website for more information.
10.03.07
Enrollment begins for Mississippi Delta Workshop 08
Barefoot Workshops has started enrollment for the two week documentary workshop in the Mississippi Delta which begins February 17th. Contact us for more details.
10.01.07
Chandler wraps up Maine Workshop
11 students participated in Chandler's Documentary Camera workshop at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine.
09.18.07
Alison Fast visits Brazil
Alison Fast, Barefoot's Program Director for Africa & The Middle East, is currently in Brazil at a conference supporting the preservation of the Amazon. She will be networking with youth programs interested in media literacy.
09.03.07
Nigeria and South Africa Workshops
Barefoot will be running a workshop in Nigeria starting in early October and a workshop in South Africa in early January. Please visit the Workshops page and download the course descriptions for more information.
08.22.07
Chandler Griffin teaches Doc Camera Workshop.
Chandler will be teaching a 1 week documentary camera workshop at the International Film & Television Workshops on September 23rd. To learn more about the workshop please click here.
08.17.07
A River Blue exhibited on the West Coast.
This Saturday, August 18th, 12 pieces from the A River Blue collection will be be for sale at Art 4 Africa, a benefit soiree sponsored by Empowerment Works to support programs in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Northern Uganda. To learn more about the event please visit Art 4 Africa.
08.17.07
A River Blue exhibited on East Coast.
14 pieces from the A River Blue art collection along with a 24 minute documentary will be exhited at the University of Maine's WITHOUT BORDERS exhibition which opens tonight in Orono, Maine. For more information please visit Without Borders.
08.13.07
Barefoot one-on-one workshops.
Barefoot offers one-on-one sessions with individuals in shooting, lighting, editing, story and photography. Length of sessions varies based on the need of the individual.
07.28.07
North Haven, Maine workshop wraps.
Barefoot wraps North Haven Island, Maine workshop.
07.23.07
North Haven, Maine workshop.
Barefoot starts a one week DV workshop with youth on North Haven Island, Maine sponsored by North Haven Conservation Partners.
07.20.07
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation update.
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation's recently trained staff makes plan to start second round of videos addressing HIV.
07.15.07
Middle East program.
Barefoot parterns with MEPI (Middle East Partnership Initiative) to run Nov/Dec programs in Kuwait and Yemen.
06.29.07
A River Blue.
Chandler Griffin wraps up trip Northern Uganda. A River Blue Vocational Training Center is scheduled to start in late August.
06.14.07
A River Blue.
Chandler Griffin will return to Northern Uganda on June 20th to work with local NGOS and map the next chapter for A River Blue.
06.13.07
Barefoot returns to Joburg.
Alison and chandler return to Joburg, South Africa to meet with local NGOs to discuss the future of an HIV/AIDS media library for South Africa.
06.08.07
Cape Town Workshop completed.
Barefoot wraps 4 week Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation workshop with students producing 5 narrative videos, 1 fundraising video and 1 peer counseling video.
05.30.07
501c3 status.
Barefoot receives officicial 501c3 status and can legally accept tax-deductible donations.
05.26.07
Cape Town Workshop wraps up week 2 of 4.
Students finish their first round of narrative videos covering the issues of HIV/AIDS disclosure, parent/child communication addressing HIV/AIDS and peer to peer video letter about HIV/AIDS. International student, Jason Jaacks, is working on a fundraising video for the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation.
05.18.07
Cape Town Workshop wraps up week 1 of 4.
Students prepare their shoots for the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation.
05.10.07
Advanced Imaging & Digital Printing Workshop with Benjamin Rush
Take this three-week intensive workshop, covering various aspects of digital imaging workflow. Details (PDF 184k)
05.8.07
Barefoot gears up for May/June Cape Town Workshop.
Barefoot will be running a workshop in partnership with the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation. Students from South Africa, Nigeria and the USA will be attending the workshop to focus on learlng how to create training videos for DTHF and their caregivers. Barefoot hopes to set up a media library for the DTHF and their caregivers that will help future caregivers better understand the issues they are dealing with in the field.
05.7.07
Barefoot screens videos for World AIDS Orphans Day, May 7th.
On May 7th, the US State Department in Washington DC hosted a one- hour exclusive videoconference and screening between top policymakers, funders and broadcasters with the US State Department in Washington DC and US Consulate in Johannesburg. The purpose was to discuss the role that "participatory media" can play in combating HIV/AIDS via Barefoot's True Life Stories: GIRLS SPEAK OUT! Workshop which was in partnership with Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity. The workshop focused on teaching teen girls from Soweto how to use media to empowerment themselves and other girls dealing with similar issues.
04.29.07
Barefoot gears up for World Aids Orphans Day, May 7th.
Check back soon for details.
04.23.07
Joburg, South Africa workshop begins.
8 girls from Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity begin workshop GIRLS SPEAK OUT.
04.22.07
Burundi Workshop wraps up.
Students complete 25 minute documentary on the issue of displacement & land rights in Burundi. Check back soon to watch the video.
04.9.07
Burundi Workshop begins.
13 students begin Barefoot/UNESCO 2 week conflict resolution workshop.
04.7.07
Burundi Workshop gears up to begin.
UNESCO 2 week conflict resolution workshop gets ready to start in Burundi.
04.7.07
A few spots left for Joburg and Cape Town workshops.
Email Barefoot if you are an NGO or international student interested in either one of these workshops.
04.2.07
Puerto Rico workshops wraps up.
Barefoot wraps up two workshops with the University of Puerto Rico.
03.27.07
Puerto Rico workshops begins.
Barefoot, in partnership with the University of Puerto Rico, has begun 2 workshops for students at UPR. The first is a 3 day intense editing workshop followed by a 5 day production workshop.
03.11.07
Burundi and South Africa NGO Workshops open for enrollment.
Barefoot will be running NGO training workshops in Bujumbura, Burundi; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Cape Town, South Africa starting in early April. Contact Chandler for more information or check out the course descriptions on our Workshops page.
Support A River Blue
Check out the A River Blue page and support the youth of Northern Uganda by donating.
02.18.07
Barefoot in the Mississippi Delta wraps up
Barefoot's Experiencing the Mississippi Delta Workshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi wraps up with students producing two documentaries. Australian Visiting Artist, Adrian Kosky, writes two songs based on conversations and stories from the Delta.
02.06.07
Delta Workshop students use new Canon XH-A1 HDV cameras
For the past three years Canon has supplied Barefoot's Delta workshop with the latest in Canon technology. This year students use Canon's new XH-A1 HDV cameras and achieve amazing image results.
02.04.07
Barefoot in the Mississippi Delta begins
Barefoot's Experiencing the Mississippi Delta workshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi begins for the third consecutive year.
01.28.07
Barefoot / PLANusa - Honduras Youth Media Exchange completed
PLANusa and Barefoot complete 1 Week workshop with 19 youth from Honduras, El Salvador and the USA. Students created 4 short videos exploring natural disaster in the local communities of Honduras.
01.16.07
Barefoot gears up for Honduras Youth Media Exchange
On January 21st, Barefoot will be taking three students from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to participate in a planUSA sponsored youth media exchange.
Barefoot in Cape Town wraps up
Cape Town workshop ends with students completing 5 videos. Go to CURRENT PROJECTS to view the videos.
Barefoot screens Cape Town videos for State Department
Barefoot holds a one-hour screening & videoconference with local organizations to inform policy-makers of the on-the-ground realities in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The conference, held at the U.S. Consulate General in Cape Town, featured five short videos, produced locally in partnership with organizational leaders & students dedicated to video advocacy.
Barefoot in Cape Town begins
Students from South Africa, USA and France arrive in Cape Town, South Africa to begin the 4 week NGO workshop.
Barefoot partners with White House Digital Freedom Initiative
Cape Town NGO training workshop will support the USG Digital Freedom Initiative and its existing efforts to expand connectivity and share U.S. technology and experience with developing nations.
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Barefoot Projects
A River Blue
Support by donating!
Read about Barefoot's new youth program in Northern Uganda. Visit the A River Blue site to learn more.
Made in Africa
HIV/AIDS Media Library
Read about Barefoot's role in creating a video library for organizations engaged in HIV/AIDS education, training, treatment, and care. Learn more