For the past few months I’ve been collaborating on an exciting project with ActionAid UK, a global NGO who work tirelessly to end violence against women and girls, to develop a strong photographic identity to compliment the vital work that they carry out and last week saw the launch of WomenbyWomen, a year-long photographic campaign that aims to give voice not only to the stories of women and girls but also to women photographers living alongside them.
The campaign aims to tell the empowering and inspirational stories of women, stories that are all too often overlooked from medics, business owners, educators, activists and community leaders – those within society who are making a difference, breaking down barriers and fighting for their voices to be heard. As a Director of Photography, it’s given me great pleasure to engage with and commission women photographers from around the globe for this campaign many of whom I’ve never had the pleasure of working with. From Esther Mbabazi in Uganda to Tahmina Saleem in Afghanistan, their talent and knowledge has been truly inspiring.
The launch of WomenbyWomen focused on Afghanistan and the inspirational stories of six incredible women who are making a difference in Kabul. All the women who participated, subjects and photographers alike, face challenges within their communities and being able to give a platform to their lives and to the work of Farzana Wahidy and Tahmina Saleem has been a privilege.
The reaction from the wider industry – photographic, charity and general media has been incredible and #WomenbyWomen has been featured in The Guardian as well as BBC World, a brilliant start to the year and for the many stories to be featured in the year ahead.
Our goal at twentynine is to work with you to create authentic content and, using brilliant, diverse and talented women photographers to engage with and tell stories within their own communities has been essential to this project’s success. Over the year I hope you enjoy these stories and appreciate the talents of the many women who have agreed to participate.
If you’d like to find out more about ActionAid then visit their website https://www.actionaid.org.uk/ to see some of the incredible work that they do around the globe with women and girls. To view the inspirational stories for #WomenbyWomen please visit http://voices.actionaid.org.uk/womenbywomen/ which will be continuously updated throughout the year.
Bette Lynch|Founder|twentynine|bette@twentynineagency.com
