Transcriber: Su Wang Reviewer: Zakia Usama
Hello. I'm Indigo Lama. I'm a 13 year old photographer
and avid traveler was lucky enough to have lived in several different countries
with my family and spent lots of time on the road experiencing many cultures,
environments and capturing the rich textures and vibrant colors.
Now that I think about it,
the geography has always been a really big part of my life.
I remember taking some very blurry pictures with a toy camera as
a three year old. It was a day hobby that I hope to pursue it in Asia,
but never did I think that it would lead to me being awarded with
Young Travel Photographer of the Year twice.
Nor did I think that one day I would be published in books,
articles and magazines such as Journey 12 of this detailed life all that
I could use it to draw attention to issues in our society.
In fact, it was only in 2016 that I realized
the true potential that photography had to help us hold conversations about
important issues. I had just come in second place exposure photography
festival, and I have the amazing opportunity to meet photographers
such as Christina Mittermeier and National Geographic photographer
and climate activist. It was meeting these people who were helping humans
and the planet using their photographs that really inspired me.
The I hate to do this. An issue that's that's particularly close to my heart
is wide gender gap between men and women.
As a girl growing up in today's world,
the struggles that me and my peers may have to face really worry me.
According to a recent report published by UNESCO's,
about twice as many girls as boys never go to school.
Women and girls are more likely to be impacted by social
and environmental issues such as the COVID 19 pandemic
or climate change in the US.
A woman earned 77 cents for every US dollar
a man earns in other developed countries.
This is often equally as bad, however, in developing countries, it's much,
much worse. After learning these disturbing facts about gender disparity,
I thought, what could I do to help this?
After all, it would not be right to send on
a world like this to our future generations.
It was after that that I decided to try make lives to
the difference of woman using my photographs. In early 2020,
I visited the AMA on Mother’s market in a northeastern state in India.
It was set up completely by women in the 16th century when the men of
the family were sent to work or fight in wars.
It's still completely run by women and now hosts over 5000 of them.
It's quite the story of empowerment.
When I was there with my family,
it was such a positive and friendly environment to be in,
and I was so glad that I could capture a series of images that highlighted
the socioeconomic empowerment and the joy that it brought with it.
I was also incredibly lucky that I got to visit a cooperative in southern India.
It gave work to predominantly single mothers after their husbands family had
SML following their husbands death or a divorce.
These cooperatives are much more than just a source of income for these mothers,
but also provide them with some way that their young children can stay while
they work. My hope with my images is that I can create a bridge between
the community and the consumer,
meaning co-operatives can continue doing this amazing work and supporting woman.
I also hope I can expand this project and shift the focus on to girls as
I feel that as a girl growing up in today's world,
I have a unique perspective and I can use that to my advantage.
So with this all being said, how does it relate to a future reimagined?
Well, when I reimagine the future, I see one where everyone goes to school,
regardless of their gender.
I see one where women are in the same amount and that their work is valued
for the same. I see one where women
are not limited by patriarchal stereotypes.
In a world so saturated with photos now that everyone has one in their back
pocket, I feel that good quality,
truly impactful storytelling which gets to the root of the issue really has
the power to change perspectives.
When we see images of girls learning or women doing valuable work,
and it helps to challenge the narratives engraved in our brains,
and we'll start to think maybe this is possible for the whole of the world.
In our world, issues are all interconnected.
By using photography to influence and help empower women,
it will help more than just the individual problem at hand,
but will also help access the health care world poverty and so much more.
So I really hope that I've opened your eyes to some of
the numerous ways that photography can help our world be a better place.
Thank you.