SARANAC LAKE — Beatrice Shachenmayr will present “Frame Your Story,” a presentation about her visual literacy project with refugee youth, at the Saranac Lake Free Library from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 17.

An aspiring art therapist, Shachenmayr holds a bachelor of fine arts in fine art photography from Syracuse University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts. Following the completion of her undergraduate education in May 2013, she spent a year teaching English and traveling in Southeast Asia. During her time teaching in Thailand and volunteer teaching in Indonesia, she realized that she connected well with students, and that creating a space where kids could enjoy learning inspired her.

Two years prior as a student abroad in Istanbul, Turkey, she had a life-changing opportunity to work with the Association for Solidarity with Asylum-Seekers and Migrants.

Shachenmayr was called to help make a difference when she realized the daily struggles that refugee youth face all over the world. Eventually, she decided to launch “Frame Your Story,” a project that uses photography to empower refugee youth to share their stories and feelings with the rest of the world, thereby providing them with basic skills they need to heal and grow. She created and launched the first project in Istanbul, Turkey in 2015. “Frame Your Story” is currently based in Berlin, Germany and is pursuing its fifth project.

All presentations of the Library Lunch Series are free and open to the public. Bring soup or a sandwich if you like, and desserts and beverages will be served, compliments of the Refreshment Committee.