Changing Worlds with Photography.

“Photography communicates in ways that words cannot. It can transport you to a place, an experience, give a frame of reference and a powerful statement. It personalizes an experience and gives a better understanding, so the viewer may grasp what the organization stands for and the kind of work they do. I aim to honor a NGO’s work not just through high quality images, but by giving a voice to the uniqueness of people and places involved. I hope in return this will help reach a greater audience for their cause.”

I have always believed that every single human being have the rights to the five basic needs of life- food, health, education, environmental and socio-economic security. According to statistics, nearly half of the world’s population lives on less than $2.50 a day, and more than 1.3 billion live on even less than that in extreme poverty.

Upendo is a non-profit organization that works to change these conditions in Oyugis region of Kenya. The area is rural and agrarian, where forestry rights have been sold, and much of the middle generation is gone as a result of HIV/AIDS. Upendo is unique because it is an organization comprised of more than 30 community groups, 100 plus sites and nearly 3000 people that work to balance the five sectors of life in the region. From food distribution to developing clinics and schools for orphans, to training in business and farming skills, Upendo’s aim is to “empower the people and make them master of their own destiny.” What makes me passionate about this organization is the scale in which they work, and how they are working not just for themselves but for the betterment of the entire community with future generations in mind.

Since Upendo is grassroots, resources to promote their cause is scarce. This is where I come in as a project photographer. In August 2018, I will be traveling to Oyugis to learn and promote Upendo’s cause through photography. My aim is to visit the many projects and sites and give voice to the people affected through visual storytelling.

I hope you can be a part of this journey with me.

About me: I am an educator and a photographer based in NYC. I have travelled extensively for photo projects, my main focus in areas of cultural conservation and wildlife conservation. My work has been exhibited in the United States and abroad, and online publications.  More recently a piece was exhibited at Focus on the Story International Photo Festival in Washington D.C.

To view my work visit: www.mikiiwamura.com

Donors like you have helped photographers fundraise 100% of project-related costs since 2014!

Every year, our photographers and videographers donate hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of their time to document the work of grassroots initiatives that are making a real change in this world where it is most needed. By capturing, honouring and witnessing humanity at its best, we are not only inspiring many, but we are forging new narratives of what is and what is possible.

You can help by supporting our photographers and videographers (See the side bar to the right to see fundraisers for our most recent recruits).

Each of our official photographers/videographers is assigned a GroupRev fundraising page by PWB upon acceptance. These pages are a privilege we offer that are intended to make our programs accessible to all and enable our volunteer photographers/videographers to raise their program fees and subsidize or cover necessary project-related expenses.

Photographers Without Borders® (PWB) envisions a world where we all put ourselves in each others' shoes and work together. Our mission is to inform and inspire positive change by visually communicating the ways that grassroots initiatives are addressing problems in their communities. PWB is registered as a charity in the United States with 501(c)(3) status and is registered as a not-for-profit organization in Canada. All donations are calculated in US Dollars and are tax-deductible for Americans and Canadians with US income.

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Any overage amounts raised on GroupRev will be donated and disbursed 50/50, between the photographer's/videographer's assigned cause and PWB, which is also a volunteer-run organization.

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All donations are calculated in US Dollars and are tax-deductible for Americans and Canadians with US income.