Unbeknownst to founder, Aly Dove, her experiences doing mission work in Central America in 2010 and Africa in 2012 would lead to the creation of YouthMAP in 2013. During her travels, she felt compelled to let the children get behind the camera and become the photographer rather than solely remaining the subject of the photograph. With basic instruction, the children soon began snapping away. Eyes gleaming painted with scintillating smiles, they saw their vision come to life through photography.
It was then she realized the incredible power of photography to dissolve cultural, language, and socioeconomic barriers. The children took some incredible photographs. and developed a new sense of pride and self-assurance after seeing their work. Aly left both countries with the hope that one day she could elicit this same reaction from youth in her own community.
If not for the encouragement of co-founders and fellow Davidson College students (from left to right) Jessica Gumucio, Max Feinstein, and Catherine Wu, YouthMAP would not have matriculated from aspiration to reality.
After considerable collaboration and preparation, the group of four pitched their program
outline in a social-innovation competition sponsored by Davidson College’s Center for Civic Engagement. They won first prize and received a grant to begin their organization. They soon recruited a team of student mentors and developed a partnership with Barium Springs, a non-profit organization in Statesville, NC that provides an array of services for children, families and individuals throughout North Carolina. Its three main objectives are to:
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Provide "A Safe Home" through group homes, therapeutic foster care and adoption programs
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"Heal the Hurt" for individuals that are troubled, abused or neglected
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Encourage "A Healthy Start" through educational, prevention and developmental programs