Abstract

The art of photography can be a way to teach. Through photography, it is possible to integrate young people, especially those from poorer backgrounds, in society nowadays, which often places them on the sidelines. The inclusion of young people in artistic fields and the stimulation of thinking instigate them to develop a critical and analytical reflection of society by giving them a greater chance of integration. This article is the outcome of my ongoing research in the area of design and presents an approach to photography as a means to promote citizenship. Thus, it aims to provide the integration of young people in society. If, from an early age, young people are encouraged to think as adults, they will become better citizens and, as a result, society will also become richer and more enlightened. In this article, we present a case study. It was developed with a group of fifteen young people in each neighborhood, aged ten to fifteen, who live in Bairro Padre Cruz, Bairro Alta de Lisboa, and Bairro da Boavista in Lisbon, Portugal. Once a week, for an hour, a workshop was given in order to teach these young people the basics of photography. The purpose of this artistic project consists of work done by teenagers in order to expose photographic works which depict not only a community, but also a culture and a dynamic reflecting process about their own identities. From a social inclusion viewpoint, this work will facilitate the communication within society as a whole. This project’s objective is to present these communities to people who do not live there and, simultaneously, give these underprivileged young people the opportunity of getting to know an art such as photography.