Changing worlds with Photography

Assignment Malawi (Background): June 2020 (Postponed October 2021)

Next month I will embark on a trip to Malawi, a country located in Southeast Africa, and will work with Ong Joshua’s Tree. Dr. Khan and his cooperators operate in Malawi, one of the less developed countries in the world, which has one of the lowest Human Development Indicator rates of the United Nations, besides having some of the worst health indicators in the world. They develop an exceptional work with the population, performing medical services in remote communities, and work hard so that these people have access to clean water. In Malawi 1 (one) in 3(three) people have no access to clean water, and most of them have never seen a doctor.

How can my photography make a difference?

Photography has always had great impact in society since it tells stories. Our mission as “Storytellers” in these cases is to expose things that many people are not used to see, and in a certain way it is a provocation that will cause reflection because it brings a reality that is different from the one we are used to see, which is translated into astonishment. When we get astonished, we reflect and generate empathy towards others, thus learning something new and valuing even more our opportunities. We are living a moment of social hyper acceleration, in which we receive a lot of information all the time. News and advertising cause distraction, and in this regard photography rescues the sense of stopping and contemplating for a moment. I believe that my photographic work can contribute so that more people get engaged in projects of this kind. 

How do will you help?

Your contribution is very important to change these people’s lives. Through the connection between us, PWB and the NGOs we can impact and engage even more people around the world. We are going to expose situations and topics that are extremely relevant to a more sustainable world. We are collaborators of institutions and organizations like National Geographic, CBC, the United Nations, TEDx, The Economist and CNN, among others.

If you got here is because you feel you are part of this with us. Thanks a lot!

Rodrigo West

www.rodrigowest.com

www.instagram.com/west.rodrigo

About PWB

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 organisation in Canada.

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.

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 subsidies or cover these necessary project-related expenses:

• Airfare
• Visa's
• Vaccinations
• Health Insurance
• Travel Insurance

Please donate generously!

Learn more about PWB.

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 organisation.

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