Photography

The Farm Project by Jessica Marteinson

In support of the Children's Center, PEMU acquired 3 hectares of land within the village to grow crops with the intent of becoming a fully self-sustaining operation.

The PEMU team walk alongside the maize crops growing on their plot of land.

The main crops grown this year were corn and beans, key components of the children's daily diet, and there are plans to add others like cassava and sweet potato.

The beans were the first to be ready and a few harvests have been made, each yielding 10-20 kg. 4kg/day are used to feed the children.

Dried beans harvested from the land.

The first corn harvest took place at the end of July and resulted in enough grain to yield 650kg of corn meal, which when cooked into posho, a mixture with water that becomes dough-like, will feed the orphans for about 5 months. This helps lift a tremendous weight off Brian and his team.

Mary Kamega, the Center’s cook, prepares posho for the children’s lunch in the open air kitchen.

The meals prepared for the children are simple, but nutritious and filling, and always eagerly awaited and enjoyed.

Children at the Agape Children’s Center wait in line for lunch service.

Young children at Agape enjoy their lunch.

The team are now focused on preparing the land for the next planting season; the rains have already started.

Quiet Dignity by Jessica Marteinson

“I loved shooting in Setrawa. I was taken in by the quiet dignity of these women, with all they endure. In Setrawa, many of the women seemed to be there just to be together, to support each other. I just wanted to try to capture that.”

Jessica Marteinson for Photographers Without Borders.

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Taken in Setrawa, India. November 2018.

Traditional Textiles of Cusco by Jessica Marteinson

In a similar vein to my previous post, I was on the hunt for some ethical souvenirs when I visited Cusco, Peru, last May.

I found exactly what I was looking for in The Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco, a local non-profit organization established to aid in the survival of Incan textile traditions and support local weaving communities.

A group of women weave together in The Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

A group of women weave together in The Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

With the rapid change and modernization of the last few decades, it was feared that the techniques and patterns of Cusquenan textiles would be lost in this generation. This prompted the founding of the Centre, which set about to research and document the complex styles, techniques and designs, as well as teach and encourage the younger generation to take up the craft.

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An up-close view of the weaving technique and intricate patterns of Cusquenan textiles.

An up-close view of the weaving technique and intricate patterns of Cusquenan textiles.

The Centre works with local weaving communities to help them keep their traditional alive as well as create a marketplace to sell their textiles. The activities the weavers are engaged in lead to significant improvements in quality of life, allowing them to provide for themselves and their families. The impact is important as the majority of the weavers are women, and they invest the independent income in their children’s health and education.

Modern means to a traditional end.

Modern means to a traditional end.

There were tons of souvenir shops in Cusco, but I chose to spend my money here knowing that it was going back to local communities, and helping to preserve important Inca culture. And it was clear that the quality of the products was far better than most of what was available elsewhere.

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On one of our day trips we visited a textile store that demonstrated how the colours are achieved for traditional textiles. All derived from natural sources, it was amazing the see the range of colours that could be created. Understanding this was one way to distinguish between the authentic and synthetic goods in stores around town.

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Taken in Cusco, Peru. May 2019.

Setrawa's Sambhali Kids by Jessica Marteinson

All throughout our visits to the Sambhali Trust Empowerment Centres, we met lots of kids. We were reminded that kids are kids, no matter where you go in the world - curious, playful and full of energy. While life around them is hard, due to the poverty and discrimination they face, the time spent at Sambhali provides respite and a opportunity to learn and play.

They were also keen to be photographed and know how to pose for the camera!

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Photos taken in Setrawa, Rajasthan, India. November 2018.

Comforting Hands by Jessica Marteinson

Pilgrims gather on the ghats surrounding sacred Pushkar Lake, in the days leading up to Kartik Poornima, an important Hindu festival.

On this particular morning the ghats were busy, full of people, vibrant colours, music and prayer. Suddenly the sound of wailing floated up from a group that was gathered just below me. I peered over the balcony and my eyes were drawn to a small circle of women, one of whom seemed to be in mourning. As I watched, those around her immediately set about to comfort and console her, enveloping her with their outstretched hands. It left me wondering who she may have been grieving for.

Taken in Pushkar, India. November, 2018.

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Samhali Trust's Empowement Centre in Setrawa by Jessica Marteinson

A woman works away at a sewing project, possibly a garment for herself or someone in her family, or even for someone in the community who has commissioned the work. Learning to sew gives women in the small desert village of Setrawa the possibility of earning their own income, allowing them to support themselves and their family.

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The Setrawa Empowerment Centre is run by #SambhaliTrust, an organization dedicated to empowering and supporting women and girls. Based in Jodhpur, #SambhaliTrust runs various programs that provide education, vocational training and support to women, with the aim of breaking the cycle of property.

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The women are focused and serious about what they are doing. The opportunity to pursue a personal dream, in a society where they are oppressed and suffer economically, is invaluable.

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There is a sense of camaraderie in the empowerment centers and that the women who attend the sewing program support each other is evident at every turn.

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The pride that these women have is clear, as you watch them work and when you witness the completion of a project. The aim of the 12 month sewing program offered by #SambhaliTrust is to provide each graduate with their own sewing machine, so that they can continue to sew at home and provide an income for their family.

To learn more about @SambhaliTrust and how you can help, visit their website: www.sambhali-trust.org/

Photos taken in Setrawa, Rajasthan, India. November 2018.

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#PWB #Photographerswithoutborders #storytelling #sambhalitrust #PWBschool #india #jodhpur #womensempowerment #unity #morethanphotographers #travelphotography #seethroughanewlens #education #photography #travelabroad #photojournalism #ethicalstorytelling #ungoals #unitednations #unsustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainability #womensrights #femaleempowerment

PWB School India by Jessica Marteinson

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In November of 2018 I had the opportunity to travel to India with Photographers Without Borders (PWB) as a part of one of their workshops, partnering with a local NGO @SambhaliTrust

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I'd been looking for a way to put a greater emphasis on my photography while traveling. I also had this growing feeling that I needed to give back to the places I was traveling to and the people residing there in a more meaningful and impactful way. PWB brings all these elements together and as I read about their School in India, it seemed to be perfect for me.

And it truly was.

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It's hard to express in words what the experience has meant to me. What I valued the most was the time we spent with @SambhaliTrust, learning about their programs, meeting all the people involved, especially the women and girls who benefit from the services provided, and having the opportunity to photograph it all.

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I was fortunate enough to experience this with an amazing group of people - like-minded, from around the world, with varying degrees of experience in photography. We learned a lot from each other. It was also my first time in India, which was incredible in and of itself. I’ve come away from this feeling that my photography has improved and I have a new sense of purpose for both my photography and travel going forward.

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If you are considering a PWB workshop, I would encourage you to go for it!

To find out more, visit @photographerswithoutborders for School workshops planned for 2020.

Photos taken in Jodhpur, India. November 2018.