“Salim Khan: Rohingya Voices of Resilience Through Photography”

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER_02]: As a father being, I'm happy with my daughters. Sometimes I have no words to explain them.

[00:00:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Sometimes I go a corner and I cry by myself. What is the fault then? What is the fault of

[00:00:18] [SPEAKER_02]: me? So you know, my second one, she really loves my profession and she always make coffee

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER_02]: when I finish my work and go to home, she always play with my camera. So I got a little

[00:00:36] [SPEAKER_02]: camera from a vision that's digital camera and I'm not using that and she go whatever

[00:00:44] [SPEAKER_02]: she like and capture to everything what is she loves and show us during the free time

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_02]: of a lot of art I capture. You know, they will also live in same life. She will also

[00:00:59] [SPEAKER_02]: face same problem what I'm feeling. It's really hard. It's really hard. It make me happy and

[00:01:05] [SPEAKER_02]: it also make me hard. So I'm requesting to the world please try to help us when to

[00:01:13] [SPEAKER_02]: stay in this world as other human are living around the world. A life with dignity.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Would you know a luxurious life but to live like a human being.

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Greetings everyone and welcome to the Camera Cafe Show where we apart from brewing up

[00:01:36] [SPEAKER_00]: inspiration, we also explore the transformative power of photography in telling untold stories.

[00:01:43] [SPEAKER_00]: I'm your host Tom Jacob and in today's episode these untold stories come in the form of

[00:01:48] [SPEAKER_00]: speaking with an extraordinary photographer whose work shines a light on one of the

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER_00]: most overlooked and little know humanitarian crisis. Salim Khan is a Rohingya photographer

[00:01:59] [SPEAKER_00]: living in the Kutapolung refugee camp in Bangladesh, the largest refugee camp on the planet with

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_00]: more than one million displaced Rohingya people who fled their home country Myanmar.

[00:02:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Despite all the overwhelming challenges his community faces still now and where he

[00:02:15] [SPEAKER_00]: is also helping hand as a volunteer firefighter ranging from raising fires during the dry

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_00]: season devastating flutes during the monsoon season to the lack of basic health care and

[00:02:26] [SPEAKER_00]: education. Salim uses lens to document their strength resilience and humanity apart from

[00:02:32] [SPEAKER_00]: being published internationally and running various exhibitions. Salim's incredible work

[00:02:37] [SPEAKER_00]: has also earned him together with three colleagues. The prestigious 2023 Nansen Refugee Award

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_00]: for Asia and the Pacific which is giving out by the United Nations today will discuss

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_00]: his life, his journey and also his vision of empowering others in his community to document

[00:02:54] [SPEAKER_00]: their lives through photography. And this folks in support of this mission we've launched a

[00:02:59] [SPEAKER_00]: little GoFundMe campaign. Give a camera give a voice to help raise funds for cameras

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_00]: and photography equipment to run workshops with the Rohingya youths. If you feel inspired

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER_00]: folks and I really hope so check out the link in our show notes to find out how you can

[00:03:13] [SPEAKER_00]: contribute. Now stay tuned as we dive into Salim's powerful story and learn together

[00:03:18] [SPEAKER_00]: how we can amplify the voices of the Rohingya people. Let's get rolling.

[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Good evening Salim, they're far away in Bangladesh. How is your evening?

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER_00]: My evening was good. You spent some time with your family?

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah I didn't spend time with my family because I was busy with my work and I did

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_02]: some interview to some victim who came here recently to the last month so I was busy with my

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_02]: work and I just finished one hour ago. I just pick up my equipment, camera and something else

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_02]: then I come to the buzzer to talk with you because inside the camp there is no good

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_02]: NATO that's why I have to talk with you and I didn't tell to my family properly goodbye

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_02]: and I'm coming something like that. I didn't get the chance.

[00:04:15] [SPEAKER_00]: We will have to do another interview and I want to see them your three daughters and your wife.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah well yeah next time we will do next time next time you can try.

[00:04:25] [SPEAKER_02]: Next time you know if I need to take them with me for the interview I need to take them

[00:04:31] [SPEAKER_02]: outside of the camp because where is the good network I mean Wi-Fi inside the camp there is a

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_00]: very weak network. No problem there is always time for another talk. Salim let's start a bit

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER_00]: we go a bit way back I think in 1992 your parents fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh

[00:04:56] [SPEAKER_00]: to live in the Kutupalong camp which is in Kokkis Bazaar in Bangladesh which is one of the largest

[00:05:03] [SPEAKER_00]: I think refugee camps that exist 24 square kilometers and over 900,000 Rohingya

[00:05:11] [SPEAKER_02]: refugees how was your life there growing up? Our life is here very tough because

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_02]: you know compared to other refugees around the world we are in a bad situation because

[00:05:28] [SPEAKER_02]: we are living in Bangladesh and this is the country they have also a lot of problems

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_02]: in their own side over there we are refugees so that's why we are not getting better

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_02]: opportunities to do like other refugees are doing around the world that's why I can't say

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_02]: our life is very tough here you know in our life during the dry season I mean cool season

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_02]: there is fire there has happened so many fire incidents in a years and then during the

[00:06:09] [SPEAKER_02]: monsoon over there we face a chance to apply and for the health issue and education there is also

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_02]: problem you know we don't have the high-level education here we have only here 6 to 7 class

[00:06:29] [SPEAKER_02]: 6 to 7 we have the personality for the education here and for the medical issue we don't have

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_02]: high-level treatment we have just primary level treatment here so if there is any major issues

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_02]: we can get the facilities very easy so it's very challenging for us I cannot imagine it must be

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_00]: very hard it must be very hard as a child growing up and it must be very hard as an adult

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_00]: growing up there what are the most difficult challenges your community faces there you know my parents

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_02]: become refugee 1990 who wore so me and my family we are here modern three decades in refugee camps

[00:07:22] [SPEAKER_02]: and there is nothing chance as a solution so think if a person is in a refugee camp more than three

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER_02]: decades without any changing you know how is the life of that can you can you think about that

[00:07:41] [SPEAKER_02]: can you guess how is the life acting nobody of us can guess how is this life and you know

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_02]: most of the most of the people became refugee on last 2017 so now we are more than one million

[00:08:00] [SPEAKER_02]: refugees and coxswain refugee camp so you know this is really really hard hardship things for the

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Rohingya refugees because everyone went a solution for this because we have the land we have the

[00:08:18] [SPEAKER_02]: country that's mama so the government is not happy to give freedom to us like as other ethnic

[00:08:28] [SPEAKER_02]: you know there is many ethnic in mama we are the only one that's Rohingya they are not given

[00:08:38] [SPEAKER_02]: letters to a state like other ethnic they have been transferring to us systematic and you know

[00:08:48] [SPEAKER_02]: very 17 the genocide of our people and that's announced by the international community

[00:08:57] [SPEAKER_02]: and many more international organizations who work for the rights rights and many more

[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_02]: they announced against the government ICC international crime code there is a case for

[00:09:12] [SPEAKER_02]: the mya mong government already over their last month last august this year they also kill more

[00:09:21] [SPEAKER_02]: than 300 people and around 10 000 people became refugees again in Bangladesh you know you can say

[00:09:33] [SPEAKER_02]: to the people we are the people who are very traumatized and we have the power to tolerate

[00:09:40] [SPEAKER_00]: every single thing I think you're maybe traumatized but you are very very strong

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER_02]: people Salim yeah strong I can say that because you know if this is other ethnic in the world

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_02]: if you don't get the facilities for the education the facilities for the for freedom

[00:10:01] [SPEAKER_02]: if you don't get the rights compared to other ethnic in ma and in Bangladesh if we can

[00:10:10] [SPEAKER_02]: there is also so many rural and regulation process we can't cross the limit so you know I'm the people

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_00]: tonight on the podcast Salim you're speaking for for your people what is a typical day for

[00:10:24] [SPEAKER_00]: you because you are a photographer but you're also a volunteer firefighter so how you balance

[00:10:30] [SPEAKER_02]: your day volunteer firefighter trainer I'm a trainer I tend to volunteer yeah it depends on the

[00:10:37] [SPEAKER_02]: season when the dry season come I provide tend to do volunteer about the fire safety and rescue

[00:10:46] [SPEAKER_02]: for the monsoon before the monsoon I provide tend to them about flood safety and rescue

[00:10:54] [SPEAKER_02]: you this is also a part of my life because our lives you know I already told you that we face

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_02]: the problem from do do side from fire and fire and photography is the thing I do every day and I tell

[00:11:13] [SPEAKER_02]: the history of my own people because my purpose is that we use we are facing in refugee camp

[00:11:21] [SPEAKER_02]: the problem or crisis trying to show to the other communities only for understanding

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER_02]: that squads can so blithe and the situation of here that is so important Salim

[00:11:36] [SPEAKER_00]: maybe you talk about photography let's pick up this side of our interview I think you started

[00:11:44] [SPEAKER_02]: like 10 years ago with photography yeah it's 10 years ago it's 10 years ago I have been working

[00:11:51] [SPEAKER_02]: as a photographer for my community and with my Portugal many people able to understand

[00:11:59] [SPEAKER_02]: about our life with that sometimes I became happy not with the stories stories is sad

[00:12:08] [SPEAKER_02]: and horrible many more types of stories I have been covering but when people able to know what is

[00:12:18] [SPEAKER_02]: happening here what is going on what is the life situation of we can get before this in Bangladesh

[00:12:26] [SPEAKER_02]: when people able to understand that I have because I am doing my job here properly to

[00:12:32] [SPEAKER_02]: spread explode the our crisis and our life situation so Salim you are documenting the

[00:12:42] [SPEAKER_00]: hardship of your people what are they going through on a daily basis I'm doing documenting

[00:12:48] [SPEAKER_02]: which is we are facing the crisis and the problem in our life you know I'm living here

[00:12:55] [SPEAKER_02]: and I understand what I need to cover so I am covering according to that you know last month

[00:13:03] [SPEAKER_02]: 5 august to last august there was a major crisis which is Myanmar military, academic heritage,

[00:13:13] [SPEAKER_02]: modern 300 Rohingya and more than 10,000 people became the food again nearly so there is you

[00:13:24] [SPEAKER_02]: know injured people there are there is people who lost husband there is people who lost child

[00:13:32] [SPEAKER_02]: and many more beloved one so I have been covered those stories Salim the stories you normally

[00:13:41] [SPEAKER_00]: capture are stories from heartfelt difficulties is there every time you capture maybe a happy

[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_00]: story something good that happened in your community yeah I capture I capture the

[00:13:59] [SPEAKER_02]: histories and with those you know sometimes I become very sad when I capture the histories

[00:14:08] [SPEAKER_02]: I become happy when I am able to reach their histories to the people in proper media then

[00:14:16] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm happy with that because because of my photos and telling histories with that many people are

[00:14:24] [SPEAKER_02]: knowing about the history when people now and people think also for the Rohingya community

[00:14:32] [SPEAKER_02]: and try to give support then I become happy with that then I think I'm doing the right job

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_00]: I should do I need to do then I'm yes you see it was a bit a next question I had Salim

[00:14:49] [SPEAKER_00]: because your work has been published in magazines online you have had exhibitions

[00:14:55] [SPEAKER_00]: you feel with all of this that your pictures are going around the world it is making some

[00:15:01] [SPEAKER_00]: impact or or you see there is there is some change now in your community due to your pictures

[00:15:08] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah you know if you think years ago yeah I have been working more around 10 years

[00:15:16] [SPEAKER_02]: but if you think before 2017 I mean seven years ago many media they don't know about our lives

[00:15:26] [SPEAKER_02]: and many people do not probably who are we and why we became the Fuji so because of my work

[00:15:38] [SPEAKER_02]: publishing to so many international newspapers and exhibitions because of that

[00:15:46] [SPEAKER_02]: explaining to so many people around the world many things are coming and people are helping

[00:15:52] [SPEAKER_02]: to us people are trying to understand why we are here how many people we are here

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_02]: what can so fast lead is we are receiving as our refugees what kinds of torture we faced in mama

[00:16:09] [SPEAKER_02]: and here also what kinds of difficulties we are facing and what kinds of ethnic we are around

[00:16:17] [SPEAKER_02]: the world then throw by my photos and the histories many people are able to understand

[00:16:24] [SPEAKER_00]: and becoming changing also I hope also this podcast can bring a little bit of help

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER_00]: really from my heart let's see what we can do to help you

[00:16:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Salim let's go to a bit photography gear but what are you using now to take pictures

[00:16:42] [SPEAKER_02]: I use Nikon and I have also another camera that is Sony I use both camera so I really love

[00:16:50] [SPEAKER_02]: to capture the photos with Nikon because Nikon I can capture the very good photos and when I

[00:17:00] [SPEAKER_02]: to do a video graph I use Sony or the photos I use Nikon and as I suppose when you started

[00:17:07] [SPEAKER_00]: 10 years ago you you already had a camera or you or you had your phone no no no 10 years ago

[00:17:14] [SPEAKER_02]: I use the mobile phone and last seven years I have been using camera it's easy to carry for me because

[00:17:24] [SPEAKER_02]: you know I work in 33 cams so I have an opportunity to tag them with me at my back that is easy for

[00:17:33] [SPEAKER_02]: me but you know I'm telling that's easy for me because I'm working in 33 cams so there is also

[00:17:40] [SPEAKER_02]: some challenging where lots of people are living together there is many things can be happened

[00:17:48] [SPEAKER_02]: and if I do some good work then some people might be other ones things that's not good for him so

[00:17:58] [SPEAKER_02]: there is challenging somehow doing my work continuously because I'm thinking this is

[00:18:05] [SPEAKER_00]: important for my community that's why I'm doing it. Salim if you for example want to buy another camera

[00:18:13] [SPEAKER_02]: this you can do also in the camp this is easy yeah but you know whose camera I'm using right now

[00:18:21] [SPEAKER_02]: there's also a she buy from the outside and other ones also I got as a gift from people

[00:18:30] [SPEAKER_02]: who really loves to me me and my work what is I'm doing for my peoples they know that's I don't have

[00:18:38] [SPEAKER_02]: too much money to buy a camera so if I need to take another one you know it's really really tough

[00:18:48] [SPEAKER_02]: for me to buy because you know I don't got too much money for my work site if anyone is doing

[00:18:58] [SPEAKER_02]: solidarity for any human beings or any people so I never ever ask financial difference for my work

[00:19:08] [SPEAKER_02]: yes sometimes I get some from the media site and exhibition site with them I have also family

[00:19:16] [SPEAKER_02]: here I need to take care of them and you know you'd be surprised to know that for one person only

[00:19:26] [SPEAKER_02]: ten dollars sometimes twelve dollars for a month for the food so it's really hard to manage

[00:19:34] [SPEAKER_02]: so when I get something from my this work site is helpful for my family I'm spending them

[00:19:42] [SPEAKER_02]: for the family so for the camera you know that's really a huge amount to buy it's really helpful

[00:19:53] [SPEAKER_00]: we will see by the time we bring out this podcast I will have a think

[00:19:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Salim of how we can maybe help you with people listening maybe we set up a go fund

[00:20:05] [SPEAKER_00]: I will try to figure something out and we will put it if you make the go fund if you make

[00:20:10] [SPEAKER_02]: the go fund I don't know anything no problem yeah who did I have that's enough for me but

[00:20:17] [SPEAKER_02]: you can help for my people you know recently here around eight to ten thousand people

[00:20:25] [SPEAKER_02]: they're getting suffer here they're not getting support because we have a data sheet here

[00:20:31] [SPEAKER_02]: which is done by the UN organization and the government so we are getting some

[00:20:37] [SPEAKER_02]: humanitarian support from the injures and these people they are not getting and they really need

[00:20:43] [SPEAKER_02]: support for the treatment and they really need to take food to eat to recover their injured so

[00:20:53] [SPEAKER_02]: if you are if you can if you can you can do for them not for me yeah if we help you

[00:21:02] [SPEAKER_00]: you can make the pictures and you can show the hardship yeah understand that so we will we will

[00:21:10] [SPEAKER_00]: do it we will do it both ways no problem you talk to moment about united nations then let's walk to

[00:21:17] [SPEAKER_00]: the big part of the interview when you want to gather with three colleagues the nunson award

[00:21:24] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'm going to read this one moment because it says the nunson refugee award is an award

[00:21:30] [SPEAKER_00]: issued annually by the united nations high commissioner for refugees to an individual group

[00:21:36] [SPEAKER_00]: or organization in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees displaced or

[00:21:42] [SPEAKER_00]: stateless people how did you feel when you get the news that you won this nunson award salim

[00:21:50] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah when I got the news about that I was happy because where we are facing

[00:21:57] [SPEAKER_02]: thousands of challenge in our refugees over there I I achieved a big world classic award

[00:22:05] [SPEAKER_02]: from the world for my outstanding photography and history telling I was happy with that

[00:22:13] [SPEAKER_02]: and I was very happy for wanting that people are now in that we are make that's the

[00:22:21] [SPEAKER_02]: how we are suffering in the world as long decades it was that important for me to know the people

[00:22:31] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah for the award I was happy but I was more happy that's people are knowing about the

[00:22:38] [SPEAKER_02]: histories of Ruhi and who are the Ruhi that was the more happiest for me can you tell me a bit

[00:22:45] [SPEAKER_00]: about the work you presented to the united nations because you made you made photography

[00:22:52] [SPEAKER_00]: and your other colleagues also photography and poetry I think oh sorry can you tell me again

[00:22:58] [SPEAKER_00]: there was something inside I see you went outside now there is more light yeah yeah because the

[00:23:06] [SPEAKER_00]: light went out where we were recording but but all good I suppose that light cuts happen frequently

[00:23:15] [SPEAKER_02]: that was our show they are really close and I come to another place for talking to you

[00:23:22] [SPEAKER_02]: it's really also hard to make the meeting salim can you explain a bit about the work you sent out

[00:23:30] [SPEAKER_00]: to the united nations and why they gave you the nansen award together with your colleagues

[00:23:37] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah I work as a photographer and he's a detailer and they're also they're also

[00:23:43] [SPEAKER_02]: and we are working for the community development and we always care to our community

[00:23:53] [SPEAKER_02]: and a very press that's now we can do something for the community sensing positive sense

[00:24:02] [SPEAKER_02]: and people recognize us and people knowing about us and because we talked already about this

[00:24:12] [SPEAKER_00]: a day that salim as you don't as you don't have a nationality or they don't want to give you

[00:24:19] [SPEAKER_00]: nationality you don't have a passport you could not even go to the ceremony to take your award

[00:24:27] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah it was really hard for us because we are a bit upset you know who got the

[00:24:35] [SPEAKER_02]: nansen diffugia award with us from others countries and other communities

[00:24:41] [SPEAKER_02]: we got the award from the asia and specific so we are unable to go there because we didn't have

[00:24:48] [SPEAKER_02]: the nationality to the maaman's site and their bangaliz site also and you know i won here and

[00:24:55] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't get the nationality of Bangladesh we are unable to pick up our award from that

[00:25:01] [SPEAKER_02]: ceremony but here you know share daddy manage a little ceremony for us and hand out about the

[00:25:08] [SPEAKER_02]: certificate to us in Bangladesh because also tried their level best but some the some of the

[00:25:18] [SPEAKER_02]: you know some of the logical problem they didn't manage them where you do not have the passport

[00:25:25] [SPEAKER_02]: how can they will make trouble to us there and the you know the high commissioner for the

[00:25:32] [SPEAKER_02]: refugees living grandly he already told to that even he was very sad very upset that we are

[00:25:40] [SPEAKER_02]: not present at that ceremony because everyone was there he was very upset for us

[00:25:48] [SPEAKER_00]: salim living in a refugee camp for you personally what are some of your dreams as a photographer

[00:25:57] [SPEAKER_02]: my dream is that I want to work like others photographer around the world they are doing

[00:26:06] [SPEAKER_02]: work where is crisis they're going layers inside the country outside the country where

[00:26:14] [SPEAKER_02]: is that needed to work they're going my dream is like that I'd like to help other communities

[00:26:21] [SPEAKER_02]: people throw by Marvel and that's my dream and I will be happy with that and I always try because

[00:26:29] [SPEAKER_02]: I was trying but you know the one is not going with the emotion and is really

[00:26:38] [SPEAKER_02]: hurtful and hurts it for the refugees I can't feel that and I can understand that

[00:26:44] [SPEAKER_02]: because I never ever seen my country's home village event so I have fully experience about the

[00:26:52] [SPEAKER_02]: refugee lives we're refugees you have lots of dreams but it's not become throw every moment

[00:27:02] [SPEAKER_02]: sometimes that is I got the net and forget our own so it's really

[00:27:12] [SPEAKER_02]: surprising in my life so for the dream sometimes yeah as a human we have also right for the dreams

[00:27:22] [SPEAKER_02]: we can't do that but one is not changing in reality

[00:27:30] [SPEAKER_00]: we have to change the world a bit salim and and your dreams we have to go slowly bit by bit we

[00:27:40] [SPEAKER_00]: will get there if everybody helps yeah talking about dreams you ever you ever think of doing

[00:27:47] [SPEAKER_00]: maybe a photography workshop in your community to show other people how to take pictures maybe it's

[00:27:53] [SPEAKER_02]: their dream yeah yeah I have the plan and you know this is really important for by those people

[00:28:01] [SPEAKER_02]: because they're working as a volunteer those are the frontline people in every single camp

[00:28:08] [SPEAKER_02]: there you know in every single camp there is 100 male and female volunteers from the Ringe communities

[00:28:17] [SPEAKER_02]: they work with the site management so I did provide training to them for the

[00:28:25] [SPEAKER_02]: fire safety and flood safety for more than six years so what I have been thinking that

[00:28:33] [SPEAKER_02]: they're the first responder if something happened they are going fast so they do know how to capture

[00:28:41] [SPEAKER_02]: the photos properly so if I provide that training to them they can capture the photos easily and

[00:28:50] [SPEAKER_02]: it will be helpful for the people to understand because you know few photographers are working

[00:28:56] [SPEAKER_02]: with more than one million refugees so if something happened if they know how to capture the photos

[00:29:03] [SPEAKER_02]: they can take them so those will help to more communities people to know about that's why

[00:29:11] [SPEAKER_02]: my plan is like this I'll provide training to 10s rehinga volunteers five male and five female

[00:29:21] [SPEAKER_02]: in every single camp you know I have here 16 camps so there is 1600 volunteers

[00:29:29] [SPEAKER_02]: among of them I will provide training to 10 in every single camp

[00:29:35] [SPEAKER_00]: you will have a lot of work teaching them and you will need many more cameras then Salim

[00:29:40] [SPEAKER_02]: yeah yeah they'll need many more cameras they'll need many more support for the training so

[00:29:48] [SPEAKER_02]: they're not going to be able to do anything for the community so now I'm thinking how to do that and

[00:29:53] [SPEAKER_02]: I really need help from the people to make that's possible in reality and how are you going to

[00:30:02] [SPEAKER_02]: teach them yeah I'll teach them how to capture photos and how to make documentary with the

[00:30:10] [SPEAKER_02]: photos how to tell histories and it will be basic photography training I'm sure it will be helpful

[00:30:16] [SPEAKER_02]: for them I'm sure there will be some positive shins in the community level because they have

[00:30:24] [SPEAKER_02]: a lot of work not only flights incident fire incident they have also many awareness session

[00:30:31] [SPEAKER_02]: for the community development so many work so if they're now then they can capture the photo

[00:30:38] [SPEAKER_02]: and then they can show to the peoples in right way you will be like their mentor yeah Salim

[00:30:47] [SPEAKER_00]: you are a father you have three beautiful daughters what future you hope for them maybe you hope they

[00:30:54] [SPEAKER_02]: will become also photographer or what you hope they become you know my second one she really

[00:31:01] [SPEAKER_02]: loves my profession and she always make coffee now when I finish my work and go to home she always

[00:31:11] [SPEAKER_02]: play with my camera and because of that I got little camera from a vision that's digital camera

[00:31:20] [SPEAKER_02]: and I'm not using that and she go whatever she like and capture to everything what is she loves

[00:31:28] [SPEAKER_02]: and then sometimes she always make so many naughty naughty things for me and my

[00:31:35] [SPEAKER_02]: families to make happy and laugh and she capture to the so many children all men dogs even whatever

[00:31:45] [SPEAKER_02]: she likes and show us during the free time have a look or I capture so when we see some things

[00:31:55] [SPEAKER_02]: which is not not to capture she capture with thinking so that is not good then we make love

[00:32:04] [SPEAKER_02]: with that and she also love with that you know she's going to be a better photographer than

[00:32:11] [SPEAKER_02]: usual because she's small and she's not a very I think so I think so because from her

[00:32:16] [SPEAKER_02]: childhood life she's trying I always make payday for her to be a great photojournalist in this world

[00:32:26] [SPEAKER_00]: they will be wonderful when they grow up and they will be happy but I got afraid as a father being

[00:32:34] [SPEAKER_02]: you know they will also live in same life so she will also face some problem where I'm feeling

[00:32:44] [SPEAKER_02]: I got the mention and because of the nationality I was unable to receive my award so it's really

[00:32:56] [SPEAKER_02]: hard it's really hard it make me happy and it also make me hard because others people who got the

[00:33:04] [SPEAKER_02]: same award they we are there only Rohingya we are not so with that if you know she will stay

[00:33:12] [SPEAKER_02]: and spend the life like as me and the dreams will not be changed so I'm requesting to the world

[00:33:22] [SPEAKER_02]: please try to help us to reach our dream and want to stay in this world as the other human

[00:33:32] [SPEAKER_02]: are living around the world we're also alive with our life with dignity we don't know in

[00:33:39] [SPEAKER_02]: luxurious life but we're not taking to live like as human beings I hope really from the bottom of my

[00:33:48] [SPEAKER_00]: heart that we can make a little change with the podcast everybody listening to your story and I hope

[00:33:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Salim you can capture also sometimes happy stories what happened in the camp because

[00:34:01] [SPEAKER_00]: life on a daily basis is very hard for you so you also need for yourself a bit of happy stories

[00:34:08] [SPEAKER_00]: there are also many weddings inside the camp you never make pictures of weddings that I suppose

[00:34:13] [SPEAKER_02]: are more happy in nature yeah yeah I did I did I did yeah I did and you know we have some

[00:34:21] [SPEAKER_02]: cultural thing here and you know every woman or every girl they love to put that skull

[00:34:29] [SPEAKER_02]: Tanaka I capture some pictures like that and when they put on their skin on the pages

[00:34:37] [SPEAKER_02]: it's really happy for them and I capture some photos like that that was also published

[00:34:45] [SPEAKER_02]: your share website and exhibition at Italy and many many places so people also get some happiness

[00:34:58] [SPEAKER_02]: to see we are following our culture where we have a lot of challenge over there we are still

[00:35:05] [SPEAKER_02]: following our you know culture how old is your oldest daughter now Salim yeah all the

[00:35:14] [SPEAKER_02]: is the first one is tan second one is eight the last one is two okay when you're oldest

[00:35:22] [SPEAKER_00]: daughter now ten when you get married yeah when she gets married you have to invite me I will come

[00:35:27] [SPEAKER_00]: over we I will make the pictures of the wedding inshallah inshallah yeah of course yeah of course my

[00:35:34] [SPEAKER_02]: friend sure sure if you are alive in this world you will then I'll inform you definitely

[00:35:42] [SPEAKER_02]: I can feel one thing that you have also two daughters and I had yes both father who can

[00:35:50] [SPEAKER_02]: understand the feeling of diamonds and you're the lucky you have everything your daughters can do

[00:35:57] [SPEAKER_02]: whatever they like but my one they are unable to do because we are the food we also here but the

[00:36:06] [SPEAKER_02]: difference we are the foodie that's why you have the facilities like as you

[00:36:14] [SPEAKER_02]: as the difference is the difference but had his pain is filling his

[00:36:21] [SPEAKER_00]: and seeing them growing up very fast is also the same and we are getting older Salim every day

[00:36:28] [SPEAKER_00]: it's I mean there is something more you want to explain the people to finish this interview

[00:36:35] [SPEAKER_00]: maybe people that didn't know about the Rohingya community before

[00:36:40] [SPEAKER_02]: we are the indigenous people of Myanmar and my my government they have been

[00:36:47] [SPEAKER_02]: torturing to us many decades and most of the Rohingya people on last 2017 became refugee I mean

[00:36:57] [SPEAKER_02]: the big parts of the 1 million people so now we are here in Bangladesh more than 1 million

[00:37:05] [SPEAKER_02]: refugees and the Myanmar government military that is genocide towards on 2017 and the genocide

[00:37:16] [SPEAKER_02]: is also still going on in Myanmar 2017 one by military Myanmar government and this one I mean

[00:37:26] [SPEAKER_02]: last month which is killed 100 people by an army by the attack of drones and many weapons

[00:37:36] [SPEAKER_02]: and they also killed people one people we are trying to cause the poor Myanmar to Bangladesh

[00:37:43] [SPEAKER_02]: over there they also attacked drone attack to them we're just expecting telling to the world

[00:37:52] [SPEAKER_02]: that please try to help us to be shuns our life we're also people who do not want to live like this

[00:38:02] [SPEAKER_02]: so it really needs the help from the world from every community to solve our issues

[00:38:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Salim where you can find for yourself a bit of happiness

[00:38:15] [SPEAKER_02]: it's really a nice word that's happiness you know yeah I was a bit happy I was happy my biggest

[00:38:25] [SPEAKER_02]: happiness was the time is when I got the Namsan refugee award because that was world-classy

[00:38:33] [SPEAKER_02]: at that time I was happy it is the biggest happy in my life that is that and then your

[00:38:42] [SPEAKER_00]: every day happiness will be seeing your family at the end of a long day yeah yeah yeah yeah as a father

[00:38:49] [SPEAKER_02]: being I'm happy with my daughters you know this really big difference because then it's many things

[00:38:58] [SPEAKER_02]: and that makes many not equation to me sometimes I have no words to explain them sometimes I go

[00:39:07] [SPEAKER_02]: and I cry by myself what is the fall of them what is the fall of me so anyway I just pretend like

[00:39:22] [SPEAKER_02]: as a happiness person in this world and I make I spent the times with them somehow and yeah you know

[00:39:33] [SPEAKER_02]: who are my friends many challenges are they different different challenges so I end up that

[00:39:39] [SPEAKER_02]: when I finish my work I love that I go to my room then I just spend with I just spend the time

[00:39:46] [SPEAKER_02]: with my family and I become happy daily like this I like to hear you a bit happy too Salim I'm going

[00:39:55] [SPEAKER_00]: to let you because you have to go to see your family it's later in Bangladesh but I want to

[00:40:01] [SPEAKER_00]: thank you so so much for making the time to talk to me and to explain your story and the story of

[00:40:07] [SPEAKER_02]: your community there yeah thank you thank you so much and I'm happy that's your covering my history

[00:40:13] [SPEAKER_02]: and it will be helpful for the other communities people to understand about our life and this

[00:40:20] [SPEAKER_02]: situation and they're also hopefully they will feel sad to know about this and they can also

[00:40:28] [SPEAKER_02]: have to do my work which is I'm thinking to do for my community so if anyone wants they can also

[00:40:38] [SPEAKER_02]: have I'll do that for my community and for my dreams is you know if anyone also they can also

[00:40:47] [SPEAKER_02]: have to fill my dreams you know if I go to other countries or from other place from here

[00:40:56] [SPEAKER_02]: then I can also move freedomly then my dream also will be

[00:41:02] [SPEAKER_02]: is all the people hand to become true and the reality of my dreams thank you thank you for your

[00:41:13] [SPEAKER_00]: chance I hope everybody listen to to these words and we can make a little a little change there

[00:41:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Salim Salim thank you very much we will stay in contact no problem I will tell you when this comes

[00:41:26] [SPEAKER_00]: out and what what we can do and have a very nice evening still yeah thank you thank you so much

[00:41:32] [SPEAKER_00]: and give much greetings to to your lovely family I talk to you soon Salim thank you thank you

[00:41:39] [SPEAKER_00]: bye and that's it for today thank you for joining us on this moving journey together with Salim Khan

[00:41:46] [SPEAKER_00]: whose powerful photography and words captured the heart of the Rhaenyar struggle through his talk

[00:41:52] [SPEAKER_00]: with him I think we've been given a rare glimpse into these daily hardships faced by his community

[00:41:56] [SPEAKER_00]: in the refugee camps of Bangladesh as you heard today Salim's mission is more than just

[00:42:02] [SPEAKER_00]: photography he's using his craft to amplify the voices of his people and bring their untold

[00:42:07] [SPEAKER_00]: stories to the world so folks as I told in the beginning if you feel inspired to support Salim's

[00:42:12] [SPEAKER_00]: effort we've launched this little GoFundMe campaign to help raise like 3 000 euros to buy cameras and

[00:42:18] [SPEAKER_00]: equipment so he can train other Rhaenyar refugees to show this marvelous world of photography

[00:42:24] [SPEAKER_00]: if you'd like to donate or even send an old camera you can find more details in our show

[00:42:28] [SPEAKER_00]: notes or on a GoFundMe page or on our own website let's just hope together we can help

[00:42:33] [SPEAKER_00]: empower this community to continue sharing their daily stories of hardship with the world

[00:42:38] [SPEAKER_00]: thanks for listening everyone and as always don't forget to subscribe and share this episode

[00:42:42] [SPEAKER_00]: with anyone who might be moved by Salim's story until next time keep finding beauty in every

[00:42:48] [SPEAKER_00]: story keep moving your photography and I'll see you soon adios