Primer Premio Objetivo África 2022

Changing_lives_whit_photography de Nseabasi Akpan

I am a freelance photographer and the founder of Camera for Change, a volunteer-based collective of visual artists who believe in the power of photography and its artistic process as a medium to educate, entertain and empower children and youth. Photography for me is about storytelling, preserving history (documenting today for the future), is about expression in different forms, culture, languages or background and connecting with people, exploring themes such as sexuality, gender politics, soccer, cultural heritage, migration, religion and spirituality. To empower with images and bring awareness to issues that can elevate public understanding and compassion and give voice to inconsiderable issues and those who would otherwise never be heard. Each year we empower about 500 young people with the knowledge of digital photography, storytelling and creating social impact in their society via our photo walks and workshops training. We collaborate with corporate and government parastatals to facilitate photography workshops in tertiary institutions. Including primary and secondary schools to enlighten them about visual storytelling and the importance of photography in the society. To inspire them to aim at being creative and pursuing a career in photography. Just as some of them are aiming to become Engineers, Lawyers and Doctors in the nearest future, some can also aim to become a photographer too. In 2018 and 2019 I embarked on a photography road trip ‘’Open Africa’’ from Ibadan, Nigeria. making stops in major cities in the Republic of Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, and The Gambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to collaborate with local artist, schools, NGOs and youth centers to facilitate photography workshops, photo walks, artist talks, and exhibitions and exchange ideas. The images I have submitted for consideration for this competition is titled ‘’ Changing lives with Photography’’ which explores digital photography as a medium to educate, entertain and empower children and youth in Africa to tell Africa story to the world.