About

¡Ganas! is a student photography and essay contest designed to promote youth empowerment. On Cinco de Mayo of each year, students from El Paso and Ysleta School Districts will join students from Secundarias de Juárez in a bi—national exposition of student photos and essays. ¡Ganas! is an international collaboration sponsored by the Office of Senator Eliot Shapleigh, Wal-Mart, the Municipio de Juarez, YISD Fine Arts Department, EPISD Fine Arts Department, the City of El Paso, Impulse Development, and Viva Creative Group.

In early September, digital cameras will be delivered to participating schools in El Paso and Juárez. Students will be asked to join the contest by taking photos of people, culture or places that have a positive influence on their values, families and community. The students will write a 100-word essay on what the photo means to them. Photos will be uploaded to the ¡Ganas! website by April 9th and the best 300 will be displayed at the annual ¡Ganas! Art Show at the El Paso International Museum of Art during Cinco de Mayo week!

The ¡Ganas! Art Show will also travel to Austin for display in the state capitol, to Juárez, and to state capitol in Chihuahua City.