Give a Camera, Give a Voice: Empower Rohingya Refugees Through Photography
GoFundMe campaign Salim Kahn
Hello, my
name is Tom Jacob, and together with Richard Clark and Tetiana Malovana we run The
Camera Café Show podcast, where we spotlight stories told through the lens
of amazing photographers around the world. Recently, we had the privilege of
interviewing Salim Khan, an Award winning Rohingya photographer, and volunteer firefighter trainer, living in the Kutupalong
refugee camp, Cox Bazaar, in Bangladesh, which is the largest refugee camp
in the world today.
Salim is
not just any photographer—he is a voice for his people. His dedication to
documenting the daily struggles, resilience, and hopes of the Rohingya people
has earned him, together with 3 colleagues, Abdullah Habib, Sahat Zia and Shahida Win, international recognition with
being awarded the prestigious United Nations 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for Asia
& The Pacific, which honors individuals or groups who go above and beyond to help displaced people.
Salim’s
work offers a rare and intimate look into the daily lives and struggles of more
than 1,000,000 refugees in Cox Bazar who are often unseen and
unheard by the world. Now, he dreams of teaching young Rohingya in his community the
power of photography, so that they, too, can share their stories with the
world, and by this ultimately hoping to make a change.
The
Rohingya's Daily Struggle: Why This Project Matters
The
Rohingya people have endured decades of persecution and violence in
Myanmar, culminating in a mass exodus to Bangladesh in 2017. They now live in overcrowded
and unsafe conditions in Cox’s Bazar, facing constant challenges like fires,
floods, and a lack of basic necessities.
In March
2023, a massive fire tore through one of the camps, displacing 16,000
refugees and destroying more than 2,000 shelters, leaving families with
nothing. Flooding is also a constant threat during monsoon season, with tens of
thousands displaced by floods each year. Food rations have been cut, and
healthcare is extremely limited, often leaving the most vulnerable without
access to lifesaving treatment.
Life in the
camps is a daily fight for survival, and the lack of educational
opportunities and job prospects makes the situation even more dire. Despite
these hardships, Salim and his community remain determined to make their voices
heard.
As Salim
said in our interview: "We want the world to see us not just as
refugees, but as human beings with stories that matter."
Our
Mission: Teach, Empower, and Share
Salim's
vision is to teach Rohingya youths—many of whom are also first responders
to fires, floods, and other crises in the camp—so they can become passionate about photography and when needed, document these challenging moments. Through photography, they can raise awareness about the challenges the
community faces and amplify their voices globally. However, Salim and his
community lack the necessary tools to make this dream a reality.
That’s
where we come in.
We are
aiming to raise $3,000 to support Salim’s vision. These funds will be
used to purchase second-hand cameras and photography equipment, as well
as to cover the transportation and logistical costs for bringing the
donated materials to the camp. Your support will enable Salim to conduct
photography workshops, helping to teach Rohingya youth in his community and give them
the ability to share their stories.
What
Your Support Will Fund:
1. Second-hand
cameras (DSLR), Lenses and Other Photography Gear (memory
cards, batteries, chargers, backpacks,…)
2. Basic Training Materials for Salim to teach Rohingya youths the Art of Photography.
3. Logistics
and Transportation to get the equipment and materials to the camp in
Bangladesh.
Salim’s
photography has already made a difference. His images have been exhibited
internationally and published in various magazines, bringing attention to the plight of the Rohingya and it picked up by the United Nations. Now, his
goal is to teach young Rohingya to help document life in the camps—stories of
survival that the world needs to see.
Why
We’re Involved:
At The
Camera Cafe Show podcast we believe that photography is a powerful tool for
change. When people can see the reality of life in the refugee camps, it
fosters understanding, empathy, and, ultimately, action. We started this
fundraiser because we believe in Salim’s mission and in the ability of his
community to create lasting change through visual storytelling.
Join Us in Making a Difference:
Donate: By
contributing to this campaign, you are empowering a community to tell its own
story, one photo at a time. Your support will help us raise $3,000,
which will enable us to send the necessary cameras, training materials, and
other resources to Salim and his team in Bangladesh. Together, we can help the
Rohingya people raise their voices, share their stories, and bring about
change.
Camera gear: If you have
spare older cameras that you no longer use, we’d love to include them in
the package we’ll be sending to Salim’s community. Please feel free to send us
an email and we can see how you can send them to one of our podcast team
members. We’ll make sure they reach their new photography students in the
refugee camps, where they’ll be used to continue sharing these powerful
stories.
Thank
You for Your Support!
We are
incredibly grateful for your generosity and support. By contributing to this
campaign, you’re not only providing cameras and resources—you’re helping an
entire community share their stories with the world. Every donation, whether
large or small, makes a lasting impact. Together, we can help amplify the
voices of the 1,000,000 refugee Rohingya people and bring about real change.
Thank
you for standing with us, and with them, in this journey toward hope and
empowerment!