NEWS & BLOG

Récent Photo shoot pour Millenium Promise au Mali. Voici une sélection de photos

2011-11-11T06:44:00.001-08:00

Activités: Adduction d'Eau PotableSolaire/ Maraichage/Education

PLAN Niger, Tilabery

2011-11-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

Back froma photo shoot for PLAN internationalin Tilabery, Niger. A new food crisis in Niger iscoming. Consequence of climate changeor non-evolution of man in his behavior, anyway too much heat, too much rain, too many crickets have finally got the harvest.The assistance is organized, however the most vulnerable are already suffering.

Portraits of friends - Trying new lighting

2011-10-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

Timelapse - Daily Life in Benin

2011-10-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

TimeLapse in Benin. Vimeo

Series portraits of people I meet

2011-10-10T02:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a video on series of portraits of people I meet

Visit of Mr. Antonio Mascarenhas Monteiro Gomes, former president of Cape Verde for UNICEF

2011-10-02T11:22:00.001-07:00

OUAGADOUGOU: Workingvisit to Burkina Faso, of the former President ofCape Verde, envoy to nutrition for UNICEF in West Africa with the Minister of Health and with the Prime Minister Luc Adolphe Tiao
António Manuel Mascarenhas Gomes Monteiro aims to help combat childhood malnutrition in West Africa through his new role as Nutrition Advocate. The former President of Cape Verde will advocate directly with leaders of West African nations to encourage them to place nutrition at the heart of development strategies and advise on approaches to secure policy focus.

PLAN International - L’Education est peut être tout ! Voici 3 diaporamas sur 3 familles au Benin.

2011-09-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Voiciune famille de classe moyenne ou le père est professeur et la mère agent socialdans un centre pénitencier. Ils ont deux enfants, et ils ont accueilli un autreenfant.

2011-09-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

Famillemonogame d’agriculteur. La mère est agricultrice et le père a une petiteentreprise de vente d’animaux. Ils ont 7 enfants.

2011-09-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

FamillePolygame d’agriculteur. Le père est marié avec 3 femmes. La première femme a 7enfants, la seconde 3 enfants et la dernière 5 enfants. Chaque famille a sonchamp. Lors de la saison des récoltes, les familles s’entraident.

Photo of Ouagadougou's sky

2011-09-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

PLAN International - Nigerien Returnees from Libya. Many people had to flee the war. Here are some of those stories. "The return of the foreigner"

2011-09-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

My name is Abdramne and I'm 30. I firstwent to Libya in 2010. I spent a year and 5 months. I worked as a welder.
The place where I worked was where I slept. My home was next to my work. Ilived in Misrata. I stayed for a month during the war. We were missingeverything--no food, no water and everything was very expensive.

Because of the bombing I had to leave;it was so close. I was there with mycousin who did not live in the same neighborhood. The city was divided amongthe rival forces and I had to go to other hiding places to look for my cousin.
The Arab people are complicated, because during the war they used differenthand signs of victory. When you see these signs mean that you must choose yourcamp. Anyway for fear of reprisals from the Arabs, I did not answer. Sometimes it’sa trap, they are loyalists who make signs of the rebels and so for fear ofbeing wrong, I'd rather not answer. So I often say when they ask me, I say, “Ilook for food”, and I say I am a temporary worker. I avoid commenting mostly onpolitics.
I witnessed a bombing. I saw four burn victims. It was during rush hour. Sincethere are food shortages at the time, people came out to the store to buy foodand a missile fell on them. I think those are missiles in OTAN, because I saw theplanes.

After 25 days, I went by sea with aboat of the International Red Cross to Egypt. In Egypt we were well receivedand well fed until we return to Niger.

See more pictures of the returnees

2011-09-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

My name is Moussa. I am 36. The first timeI went to Libya was in 2002, I returned in 2004 because my mother died. I left onemore time and returned to Niger in 2007. I left Niger in 2008 and returned in2011, because of the war. It's been four months that I got back. I was workingin a Turkish company.
We were building a 980 room hotel in Tripoli. I was the storekeeper in the society,and as I spoke Turkish, I acted as translator. As they did not speak Arabic, I wasdoing the translation, so I had a relationship with them a bit special. Theboss became my friend. Recently I called to find out how he was. I had a goodrelationship with them.
Libyan life, it went well. I regularly sent money to my family. Because of thewar I lost everything. The Libyan people are a little stubborn, however itdepends on each person. I've never been beaten. I stayed one month during theconflict. We did not get our wages for two months because during the war myboss left. I left before the rebels arrived in Tripoli.
Everywhere there were soldiers and bandits. They were looking for your mobile, andsim cards because they thought you could be a spy for the rebels or sendpictures to the European journalists.
My boss gave me 5 laptops because I told him I'd like to open a cyber café. Iwanted to put them in a container to send to Saba. When I went out, after onlygoing 10 meters, two military vehicles arrived. Of course they saw the computers,and they asked me what I was doing. They started loading their guns; they wereready to shoot. One of them said, “no, no do not shoot him, he must first bebrought to Headquarters”.

They arrested me and blindfolded me.When they removed the blindfold, the chef came out. There were 12 Libyansoldiers. I gave my name and nationality. He asked me who gave me the computersand said, “You know those computers, we received the order to shoot all thosewith computers, because there are people who send pictures to Europe. So maybeyou’re in cahoots with them.” Had I known that computers were going to createproblems, so why would I take them?
I had my pass at the Embassy of Niger and I showed him my work card. So themilitary deposited me where they arrested me. They took everything, money andcomputers. They left me with nothing, I walked with difficulty. My cousin wasin the apartment, we wanted to leave. It was difficult to sleep. The night wedidn’t sleep, because there were young people with Kalashnikovs, firing intothe air. We wanted to leave from Tripoli, but we had no money, so I had to callmy little sister. It’s with this money we could leave to Saba. When we arriveda friend gave me some money, which allowed me to arrive.

On the way we were stopped by someLibyans (in three Chadian original Toyotas). They made everyone get off, andstole everything.

It took 26 days of road to come back toNiger. We were in a truck that usually takes 80 people and it was loaded with350 people. Along the way seven people died due to travel conditions. We buriedseven people.
We waited for the government of Niger, but nothing. Here we saw the formergovernor, we thought we had money from the government, but nothing. This almostfive months, it is not worth the trouble. Some went to Cotonou, others drivemotorcycle taxis. Even if I wanted to go back, I do not know if my family wouldlet me go.

See more pictures of the returnees

2011-09-10T10:01:00.000-07:00

My name is Boubacar. I’m 43 years old.I went to Libya in 1999, I lived 12 years in Libya. I was a welder. I had twowomen there and five children.
Daily life in Libya was simple. Arabs often treat us as slaves. It's every day,we must be careful. You have to be careful not to create a problem because itis always the Arabs who are right. During the war I stayed two months. I was inMisrata. I have not seen combat since the Arabs have forbidden to leave, so we werestuck in the house. I wanted to go to the home of a friend of mine, that's howI learned it was possible to evacuate by sea. I did not even know there was away to leave because we were cloistered at home. That's when I informed myfamily. All telephone lines were cut off by the army of Gaddafi.
When the army withdrew from Gaddafi to 30 miles, we left. When we reached thesea we left with the boat from International Red Cross. All transportation wasorganized by country, Chad, Mali, Sudan. We spent a night in the boat. Arrivalin Benghazi we have undergone medical tests after we took a bus to Egypt. Afterwe were supported by aid workers. I got permission from the embassy to returnto Niger. We were 180 people on board the aircraft. Unfortunately we have notbeen received by any authority. We stayed overnight in Niamey and after we tookthe bus to Dosso.

During my stay in Libya, I had a bighouse and I welcomed Nigeriens who were often looking for work. But around10:00 pm one night, someone knocked at my door. I opened and I saw all armedmen. They shouted a slogan, and then they searched the house and took all ourmoney. Although we have shown all the necessary documents, they tookeverything. But they did not hit people. We have not suffered from the assaultby rebels. I knew some of them before the war. Sometimes it is they who broughtus food.

We have suffered greatly from lack offood, especially the lack of water. Especially since my wife was expecting ababy, and he was born during the conflict.

I lost everything; right now, I cannoteven afford a door to my house. I don’t have the means to return to Libya. Thestate said it would help us, but we haven’t received anything. I’m someone whohas five children, two wives, a father and two younger brothers in charge, how willI feed them? It's been four months.
I heard that the state of Tahoua gave 25,000 CFA per month. I saw on TV thePrime Minister that would unlock the money, but here we have not seen anything.I have my welder, but I have no power to make it work, so I'm stuck. My onlyoption now is to try to plant something, but for the 20 years I have not grownmy own food.

See more pictures of the returnees

2011-09-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

My name is Issoufou. I'm 42. I left inlate 2009. I was a welder and worked in the workshop of a Libyan in Missrata.Everywhere in life there are good and bad people, but in the relationship withthe Libyans there are a lot of racism.
One day, I wanted to take a taxi. I did not notice I was waiting in front of ahome. The man accused me coming out of preparing a coup. While his family wentout and beat me. They took my papers and all the money I had on me. Then Iended up in jail for one month (28 days), where I was beaten with broomhandles. I was heard five times by the judge, who sentenced me to six months. Afew days later they called me and my sentence was reduced to a month, includingthe days already served. So I still had two days to go before going out. Prisonlife, I have not had a problem. Every morning and evening, they fed us. When Ileft, I returned to work for my boss.
I spent two months in Libya during the bombing. Once we got lucky. Around noonwe went to the mosque and when we returned we saw that a bomb had fallen on ourhouse. It was after this that I was determined to leave. For me the attacks arefrom the rebels. We had to take refuge in a cave to protect us.

Once the rebels returned to theneighborhood. They forced the door and returned to our room. They asked us to lieon the floor. They looked everywhere and asked if we were loyal to Qaddafi orthe rebels. We replied that we were for the rebels. One asked me for whom Iworked. I gave the name of my boss and I was lucky that one knew the name of myboss. This has saved us.

What worried me a lot is that our Arabneighbors began to accuse us of being mercenaries, to be beholden to Gaddafi.We were afraid. We passed several checkpoints to go to another neighborhood. Iwas with my two other brothers. Trying to go in another neighborhood, one ofthe checkpoints they arrested me and put the question of why I left myneighborhood. Then they took a car and they took me back to my neighborhood.When we arrived in my neighborhood, I showed them the people who accused me.

As they saw that I spoke a littleArabic, I was recruited. My work for the rebels was to hold the checkpoints andrebels to search the vehicles. When a vehicle was allowed to pass I lifted thebarrier. I did this for 10 days. I have not carried a weapon. I did not see anyabuses by the rebels or the army of Gaddafi, only the injured or dead becauseof fighting.

After the rebels helped me out. It wasthen that I noticed that all Africans were gone, I found myself alone. When Iwanted to leave they asked me where I wanted to leave. The rebels have shown methe way to go in the district of Zerout was the only area where people werestill moving. 3 days after, I heard that there were boats leaving to Egypt.There, I found 600 Nigerian waiting to be evacuated. The evacuation orderprioritized Malians, Chadians and Sudanese. As Nigeriens were not concerned, mylittle brother had the idea to join the Malians. I copied him and that's how wewere evacuated.

Arriving in Egypt, we went to theconsulate. As we were only nine Nigeriens, we were evacuated to Cairo. Then Ipassed by Algeria and on to Niamey by bus.
Although I want to go back, I have six children (five boys and one girl). I amcurrently working in the shop of my little brother to sell grain. I hope thewar ends so I can leave. Until then, nothing will and solidarity has itslimits.

See more pictures of the returnees

Photo series: Women Doing Men's Work. Cotonou Benin PLAN International

2011-09-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

PLAN International Benin - Front cover for PLAN’s magazine

2011-09-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

PLAN International Benin

2011-09-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

Selection of photos froma photo shoot ofyoung people who participated in thesession for the cover of the PLAN’s magazine.

PLAN International Benin

2011-09-01T01:01:00.000-07:00

Couffo, BENIN: En J'ai profite que les enfants etaient la entrain de nous regarder pour faire quelques photos avec eux.

Community Health Solidarity Funds

2011-07-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here is a video on Community Health Solidarity Funds, a community-managed health insurance model supported by Lutheran World Relief and its partners in Mali.Vimeo

New images from a recent shoot in Mali

2011-07-24T00:52:00.000-07:00

Portraits of Farmers, Mali

2011-07-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

New images from a recent shoot in Benin for PSI.org

2011-07-03T00:34:00.000-07:00

New work published for LWR

2011-06-18T17:22:00.000-07:00

new images from a recent shoot FOR FITIMA.ORG

2011-05-20T00:06:00.000-07:00

OUAGDOUGOU: New campaign for FTIMA.ORG "mon handicap ne m'empêche pas d'agir, et vous?" Here is one of the image.

Portraits of Farmers FROM NIGER

2011-04-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

NIGER: Last Friday, I was in Niger to visit a project with Lutheran World Relief and their partner, the Union Hadin Kai, a 1,000+-member farmers' organization situated in the hills of Adouna just outside of the city of Tahoua, one of the areas most affected by the country's 2009-10 drought. Lutheran World Relief began working with the Union in 2010 to help their members and neighboring communities recover from the drought, targeting included environmental protection on the slopes of hillsides to help prevent erosion and protect the farmland in the valley from encroaching sand, building systems to help store and harvest water for production in the dry season and replacing animals lost to the crisis.
It's the dry season right now in Niger, and since our visit fell in the middle of the day, it was 110 degrees in the shade; made even hotter by the sand all around us. The land looks parched now, with no plants other than a few spiny trees—except for a narrow belt of green in the deepest part of the valley where farmers are still irrigating their crops. It didn't stop people from coming out to greet us, though—there were elderly Hausa dignitaries in flowing robes and turbans, women with multi-colored scarves and elaborate jewelry and young Touareg men in dark sunglasses on camels wearing amulets and handcrafted, embossed leather saddles.
After formal greetings and a Muslim prayer, we began talking to community members about what had changed in their community since the project began. "Talking" is relative—communication takes a lot of effort, with two translators needed for translation from Tamaschek to Hausa to French and back, before we nod to restart the conversation. We did hear a lot, though.
We heard how community members worked to protect their environment, earning money in the process that helped see them through the worst part of 2010 and even allowed for a little celebration for the end-of-the year holidays. We heard about how farmers are using shallow wells to grow onions, cabbage and tomatoes in the dry season. We also heard from the women who received animals and how it has changed their lives.
Fatimatu Soulaymane is one of these women.

Fatimatu has six children, two married daughters and 3 married sons, with one daughter still at home. Fatimatu is Toureg, an ethnic group that traditionally keeps large herds that caravan the semi-arid areas of West Africa. Fatimatu's husband was injured in a car accident eight years ago and remains permanently disabled. She used to keep a lot of animals, but over the last few years, the family was forced to sell them off little by little to pay for her husband's care. By the time this recent drought hit, the family was left with virtually nothing and the only remaining animals were sold.
Through the project, Fatimatu joined a women's group in her village and was selected, by consensus, as one of the neediest members and therefore a recipient of 3 female goats. She's caring for the goats now and once they have given birth and the kids weaned, she will give these animals to another member and keep the kids to rebuild the family's herd. Fatimatu is very happy with her animals—"just to see them attached in front of the house makes me smile."
After we finished the meeting, I went with Fatimatu to visit her goats; none of the translators were along. We smiled at each other, spoke in our respective languages, and laughed at the awkwardness of not being able to understand each other. She proudly showed the bulging bellies on two of the goats and, just to make sure I understood, made hand gestures to show the milk she is planning to get when the goats give birth.
Some things don't need translation after all…

Portraits of Farmers FROM NIGER

2011-04-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

Portraits of Farmers FROM NIGER

2011-04-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

new images from a recent shoot at the pratt library - victoria rowell

2011-01-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

new images from a recent shoot in Baltimore College Public School

2010-11-28T22:47:00.000-08:00

new images from a recent shoot in Baltimore College Public School

2010-11-09T22:37:00.000-08:00

new images from a recent shoot AT ST TIMOTHY School - desmond tutu

2010-09-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

Just launched ipad portfolio

2010-08-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, I just launched a new iPad Portfolio. Simplicity of the site and easy to navigate thought the images.

new images from a recent shoot in Kenyon College

2010-05-13T09:28:00.000-07:00

Photo Shoot at Dickinson College

2010-04-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

new images from a recent shoot for ANDERSON, MI

2010-03-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

Exibition at the gallery 788

2010-03-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

Portraits of Mali along the Niger River

2010-01-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

Africa Women's Day

2009-12-29T19:45:00.000-08:00

Daily life in Kibera, Kenya

2009-12-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

My name is John Kikiaki. I’m from Luhya Community, Vihiga District. I was born in 1970, went to primary and secondary school respectively.

I passed thought difficult moments while in school because my parents did not have enough resources. I was ambitious to study to the highest level and get the best education but my parents were not financially stable hence making me not to reach my dreams. Above all I struggled hard and managed to score a mean grade of C in my secondary school after which I came to stay with my brother here in town.

Since I came to Nairobi in 1989, I have been looking and searching for work though I didn’t have any professional experience. In 1996, I could do any type of work including construction until 1997 when I secured a job with a company called Interself Ltd. I worked for several years until one day the staff had a strike over internal issues and we were sacked.

In 2001, I involved myself with a community-based organization where we could handle matters that concern the daily lives of the people living in Kibera. So far I have lived in Kibera for 15 years and all this time I have acquired so different skills in the community.

I later trained and got skills concerning HIV/AIDS since it was a national problem with people scared to talk about it. After the training, the organization sent us to educate people about AIDS and encourage those affected to live positively and that is how we came up with a group know as Kibera Grassroots Initiative Network which is basically about educating people about AIDS.

We had to walk each area of Kibera educating them how to prevent themselves against the disease and how to live positively for those already affected. We did the job for along time but due to financial problems we could no longer continue. But my happiness is that we touched many people and we could see the fruits of our hard work where by those affected were living positively and many other were aware about disease.

Apart from AIDS, we are also collaborating with the government to make that poverty is reduced in Kibera and to uplift generally the living standards of Kibera people. If we could get sponsors and publicity, I think it is possible to continue the good work than we have done so far.

The main purpose is to make sure that people live in harmony, security, good health and good education whereby schools are constructed. This is because Kibera is a highly populated slum and consist of people from different countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Sudan.

Lastly I appeal to well-wishers who can support people of Kibera to come up--all shall benefit.

Daily life in Kibera, Kenya

2009-12-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

I come from Muranga District. After completing my education I enrolled for a course known as Wall Master. After I found a Juakali job where I managed to save some cash and decided to build myself a few rental rooms. Due to the little cash that I had, I compared the low/poor living standards of the slum people and I decided to build small mud rental houses which am now depending on.

I find life in Kibera easy and cheap and manageable compared to life in rural areas; where it is too difficult for me to get, hence little development going on. I prefer to be in town where one can get a job due to many buildings under construction. Nairobi is a busy place with many people, hence chances of one getting a job or employment are very high.

I have three kids who live with their mother in the rural home (Muranga). Due to the financial constraints that I experience I find it difficult to stay with my family here in town. I sometimes send them money through M-PESA or alternatively go home to visit them more often. Since Christmas is approaching I’m planning to go and visit my family for one month and come back.

The other reason why I refer my family to remain at home is that I purchased land away from my parents and I find it easer for my wife to be there so as to take care of the land and the properties. This will also make my wife develop my rural home from the little support that I give her.

Daily life in Kibera, Kenya

2009-12-20T08:45:00.000-08:00

I knew of my HIV status in 2002 and when I discovered that I was positive I had to go in hiding because I did not want people to know my status. Since the disease had circulated so much in my body I had to go for the test three times and all the tests were positive. I started medication whereby I was put on the drugs. Life is difficult and being a single mother with children depending on me to provide food, shelter, clothing and education I found it very stressful to bear. As for my status I need to eat a good, well-balanced diet for the drugs to work. This has been so stressful since I don’t have enough cash to buy food for myself and for the family. I’m surviving on well-wishers and sometimes we go without anything to eat.

My first daughter is in 4^th form and I see it’ll be difficult for her to go to school. For next year I won’t have the money to pay for the school fees. Since I’m very weak and unable to work to support my family, I find it difficult to pay everything and I have no one to support me.

When people discovered that I was positive they deserted me; even my husband disowned me. I was stressed and traumatized over the issue and this made me to be weaker. I could not shake hands with anyone, as they believed I could infect them.

I’m hoping to live longer to take care of my kids. I always encourage my kids, tell them to work hard and when I see them go, I advise them accordingly since I am a living example to them. As we are talking, my kids have gone for the AIDS seminar at a nearby centre organized by the Belgium organization.

My husband does manual jobs but does not assist me since he does not want anything to do with me. All the cash he gets, he drinks alcohol and always spends time in the nightclubs. But I believe I have a future to take care on my children despite my poor situation.

My small business kiosk that I depend on is not doing well because of the post-election violence and at the moment the turnout is not good since most people have traveled upcountry for Christmas.

Since life in the slum has become too difficult I would like to go back home, but I don’t have enough for it.

My advise to those who are not HIV positive and are married to be faithful to their partners and if one is positive he should seek advise from doctors and attend a guiding and counseling institution so that he lives a positive life and lives longer.

Being infected does not mean you’ll die tomorrow. Just believe in yourself, don’t take alcohol and take drugs as instructed by the doctors and you’ll live longer than you expect. In fact, you’ll live like others in the society.

Daily life in Kibera, Kenya

2009-12-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

My name is Millicent Odhiambo Onyango. I was born in Siaya district and got married there. I came to Kibera in Nairobi when I was 14yrs old. I’m now 42 years with 8 kids of whom 3 died and the remaining 5 are all in school. My husband is not permanently employed but tends to work on any kind to work he can find.
From the scarcity of basic needs (paraffin, cooking oil house, water, shelter) the life in Kibera is very expensive compared to the times I was young.
Since I opened the small business, sometimes I can go for 2 days without any profit, and if there is profit of 150 Kshs (2$), I’ll save 50 for school fees and 100 to cater for food.

Daily life in Kibera

2009-12-20T08:10:00.000-08:00

My name is Stephen Muthusi. Actually I’m employed at the BM but the job is not reliable because if I do a small mistake I can be easily sacked.
My average salary is 10,000 Kshs (130$) a month.
I divide the money as 1,500 for the house rent monthly (and come January next year the landlord might increase the rent with 500 Kshs or more), 2000 for food and try to send everything else to my family. It becomes hard but surviving by God’s grace.

Daily life in Kibera

2009-12-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

My name is Fatima Hadji. My husband is working casually in the industrial area but I cannot rely on him for everything because life is expensive in Kenya and especially in the slum.
My husband decided to open a small business for me because I was at home, so as to assist her family of three children.

Daily life in Kibera, Kenya

2009-12-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

My name is Peter Wako.
Mistakes arise from work and so I was sacked and it happens that way. It’s so easy to be sacked, there are so many people waiting outside. When you work you are always afraid to make a mistake. My wife sells vegetables along the road: actually she is the one who feeds the family.
We can’t go back to our rural home because our children who were 4 in number died of witchcraft and so we decided to come to the city.
Since we moved to Kibera, we have 2 children. We can only go back if the kids are big / older enough.
We are also thinking of buying land elsewhere if funds are available.

2008-09-09T07:09:00.001-07:00

Architecture in South Sudan

Aug2, 2008: 2:47pm

Architecture in South Soudan. Inspiree de la nature, utilisant les ressources naturelles, chaque maison supporte le temps d'une saison. Apres l'intensite des pluies, elle necessite des reahblitations, afin de se preparer a passer la saison chaude. Parfaitement climatiser, pendant la saison chaude, il y fait toujours frais, ce qui permet de supporter les nuits chaudes. Malgre sa febrilite exterieure, la hutte est la parfaite habitation pour supporter les extremes du climat africain, elle offre le meilleur des conforts.