“Every Tuesday we work with a group of adolescents and niños in El Fortin.

All of these young people come from particularly challenging backgrounds and over this term their confidence has grown massively. What started as a painfully quiet and introverted group has become really fun and productive with some very impressive artwork. They have focused on fine art, learning drawing skills, colour theory and painting techniques.

In November we organised a visit for them to the Museum of Modern Art and Anthropology. The museum is in the centre of the city on the huge river Guayas that flows through Guayaquil. For most of them it was the first time they had ever gone to a museum, and for a few it was the first time they had even seen the river, so it really was a very special trip. Once inside the museum we had a guided tour of the artwork and then spent an hour making sketches and taking photos. The following week each young person chose their favourite painting from which they then made their own interpretations of the work using acrylic on canvas. The result was really amazing, and I have to say I was immensely proud of them all.”

Emily Wood, Artist project leader, 2007