twenty-five young men and women from left-behind communities joined a training on mobile photography organised by the United Nation Development Programme’s Human Rights Programme.

Some trainees arrived from remote char lands of northern Bangladesh, while others travelled from the southern coastal parts. There were representatives of the transgender community at the training as well. 

San San Shila grew up in the Rakhine community of Cox’s Bazar and witnessed the struggle women face since her childhood. Her photos were among those selected for an online exhibition featuring the trainees.

San San Shila took a beautiful photograph of a girl who was about to fly a kite. “I have been a dreamer since my childhood. This photo has that dreamy quality. The subject of the photo, the little girl, maybe from a disadvantaged community, but she still has the little joys and dreams in life. This is depicted through her getting ready to fly a kite, she dreams of touching the sky with it.”

With guidance from the training facilitators, the 25 participants of the training took photographs in their communities, which were displayed at an online exhibition on the occasion of International Women’s Day last March 8. 

Sabitre Humbram from northern Bangladesh attended the training. The women of her indigenous community rely on agriculture for livelihood. Sabitre is deeply bothered by the fact that household chores, including productive activities, are not valued either by society or families, and unpaid care work does not count in national statistics. 

Sabitre chose to channel her dissatisfaction with this system by capturing two women -- an elderly woman who works the field, and a younger girl on her way to school. Sabitre wanted to show the world that young girls are able to attend school largely due to the economic contribution of older women in their households and community. 

Renowned photographer Prito Reza coached Sabitra, Shila and their fellow trainees in February. “When UNDP approached me and discussed engaging a diverse group of youths for mobile photography, I was thrilled and anxious at the same time. As a photographer, I was worried about preparing youths from left-behind groups for an exhibition within such a short period of time,” said Reza, “It was their enthusiasm and self-confidence that led to them learning quickly. I am so happy to see their works displayed at the online exhibition and I hope they continue telling the unheard stories of their communities using the visual medium.”