Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.- Last Saturday, a small group gathered in Puerto Plata, at the Project Esperanza headquarters on 12 de Julio street, to partake in an independent photography exhibition that was the first of its kind.

The show, titled “Vida Verdad,” was the culmination of a project started by Be1Vision's founder, Krystle Marcellus and a dozen Haitian student photographers living in the Muñoz bateyes.

Ms. Marcellus, a seasoned photojournalist based in Hawaii and Philadelphia, came to the Dominican Republic with the goal of teaching Haitian immigrants the photo-documentary art form. She worked for months with the communities, most of whom had never even used cameras before.

“It is the easiest, best way to teach photography in developing areas. This is important for multiple reasons. Long term, it's a skill set that could lead to a job. It is also a tool for empowerment through documenting your own surroundings,” said Ms. Marcellus.

The show featured photographs of everyday life, from children playing to the insides of people's impoverished homes. There were also startling photos that focused on the struggles of the people, such as a man who had recently been in a serious motorcycle accident and children who were suffering from malnutrition.

The crowd was a diverse group of activists, volunteers, art enthusiasts, supporters like staff from the nearby El Teatro Escuela Iván Garcia, and other photojournalists who have been working in the area.

To the group of students who had never seen images of their lives represented in media or at an art exhibit before, this was a powerful awakening about the role photography plays in capturing the needs of a people.

“I never thought documentary was important. But it is, I want to show the world our struggles now. Maybe someone will listen,” said a student turned photographer.

Photography programs similar to Be1Vision's have cropped up all over the developing world. Partly inspired by the award-winning documentary, Born into Brothels, where a photographer teaches children in India's red-light district to use cameras, and partly fueled by access to cheaper point and shoot cameras, visual storytelling resonates strongly with students who may not have any formal education.

These photos were taken with donated point and shoot cameras gathered by Ms. Marcellus. She hopes the students will continue to realize the importance of showing the world their everyday lives.

“I'm glad we could help showcase these photos. Working together is the only way to get things done,” said Laura Vladimirova, a coordinator with Project Esperanza, a relief organization that has been working with the Haitian population for several years and hosted the photography show.

“I plan on continuing this project in other places,” says Ms. Marcellus. “It's important for any programming to have a result and this show is the result of our work. It's seeing something through.”

Fortunately for Ms. Marcellus and her students, the show was a success. Many prints were sold and all the proceeds went to the students, who plan on incorporating photography as a way to telling their stories in the future.

Though Ms. Marcellus is preparing for her departure back to the United States, she leaves the remaining prints to hang at Project Esperanza, 12 de Julio #38, where they will be on display until early next year.