World of Change

THE INITIATIVE

Paul Cox/Tsolmon Ireedui Foundation

Mongolia

The Red Hero Collection

Paul Cox, a Zimbabwean documentary photographer based in Hong Kong, first learned about the Tsolmon Ireedui Foundation (TIF) in 2013. Founded in 2010, TIF provides free daycare for children from families in need in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, so their parents can work. In addition, TIF also helps disadvantaged families enrol their children in local schools, offers warm meals, and distributes everyday necessities.

Inspired by TIF’s mission, Cox began fundraising for the charity through his Red Hero Collection (Ulaanbaatar means ‘red hero’ in Mongolian) charity exhibitions. In collaboration with Kee Club and Christie’s, Cox has auctioned some of his favourite photographs from his many visits to Mongolia and, so far, has raised more than US$100,000 for the centre.

Learn more: c8x-photography.com, tifcharity.org

Jess T Dugan/Female in Focus

UK

Female in Focus

Around the world, women account for 80 per cent of photography graduates, but only 15 per cent become professional photographers. It’s with those figures in mind that 1854 Media, which runs the British Journal of Photography, launched Female in Focus, a new award highlighting the work of female photographers globally.

Among them is photographer Jess T Dugan, who created a photo series dubbed To Survive on this Shore: Photographs and Interviews with Transgender and Nonconforming Older Adults with partner Vanessa Fabbre. “The series depicts candid, frank portraits from the LGBTQ community,” Dugan told the British Journal of Photography in an interview. “I hope that my photographs both validate those within queer communities and educate those who may be unfamiliar with LGBTQ people.”

Learn more: femaleinfocus.com

Rede Asta

Brazil

Rede Asta

Rede Asta, a Brazilian social enterprise with locations in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, helps talented female artisans from vulnerable communities become eco entrepreneurs. Established in 2005, the organisation has worked with more than 1,200 women and generated US$3.4 million in income for these artisans.

In addition to providing several platforms where artisans can sell their products, such as showrooms and an online marketplace, the organisation also offers free business classes, networking, marketing connections, and mentorship.

On the environmental side, Rede Asta focuses on sustainably produced items, which means artisans must transform waste – such as fabric scraps, seat belts, uniforms, and electronics – into lifestyle products and accessories. The innovative handmade items run the gamut from bags to jewellery, children’s toys, clothing, travel gear, and office supplies.

Learn more: redeasta.com.br

Expression & Freedom

India

Expression & Freedom

Founded in 2002 by professional drama instructor Insiyah Kirloskar, Expression & Freedom (E&F) is a speech and drama academy for children in Pune, India. With a mission to foster imagination and self-esteem, E&F encourages children to try a variety of artistic mediums from poetry to creative writing, speech, drama, storytelling, illustration and more.

As part of a recent assignment in E&F’s Writers Module, 13-year-old student Trayi Ajit wrote a spoken word poem based on the prompt “I will dance”:

I will dance The mere tapping of pencils on a table The distant humming of a boy doing homework The dha-dhinak-dhin-dha of a girl playing the tabla The trumpet being played in the studio across the road The tingling sensation in the bones of my socially awkward self I can’t dance, I say He can’t sing, he says “We are worthless,” we all say. But let us bring it all to one stage Make the 21st century the golden age Make the headlines on every page Break out of the unbreakable cage Of self hatred We are not worthless He will sing I will dance

Learn more: fb.com/expressionandfreedom

ARIANA 2019