4-H Clubs

by Arielle Gerstein
In 4-H Clubs, young people, ages five through nineteen, develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, responsible, productive citizens, and contributing members of society. 4-H continues to develop new projects for its members to study beyond agriculture and animal husbandry, including photography, conservation, cooking, public speaking, various sports, history, art, and other pursuits. Diego Lahaye is the 4-H extension agent in charge of 4-H Clubs.

Diego primarily works with students, exposing them to the arts in fun and innovative ways. He runs many photography and film clubs for students throughout the District. He not only teaches students how to create photos, he aims to show them how to think differently about senses by creating photos at different angles. He also mixes National Geographic’s Brain Games interactive quizzes with creating photos so students understand how perception affects their daily world. The students frequently take photo trips around the city to explore our nation’s history through photography.

The film clubs are local and international. In the international film program, students create a film of their home country and then show the film to students in another country so each group of students gains a better understanding of what it’s like to live in another country. 

Currently participating countries include the United States, Liberia, and Argentina and more countries will be involved in the future.

The local film clubs focus on making the students feel comfortable behind and in front of the camera. They have the opportunity to not only film but conduct interviews. One unexpected change in behavior that Diego has observed in his programs is by the end of the year, students are eager to be in front of the camera.

He currently works with Calvary Christian Academy, Brightwood Education Campus, Barbara Chambers Children Center, Bolling Air Force Base, and the Columbia Heights Education Campus. His upcoming programs include more collaboration with the UDC farm. The idea is for students to garden at least once a month at the farm and whatever is grown, they can sell at the UDC Farmers Market for profit.

Diego has a long history of working in mass media including television and film in the United States and in his native country of Argentina.  He also has an undergraduate degree in Film Production from UDC.

He is always eager for more volunteer program leaders. If you have a skill or hobby that you would like to teach students, please contact him at dlahaye@udc.edu for more information.