Young Israeli photographer Tamar Shemesh, from Tel Aviv, worked for three years for the non-profit organization Innovation Africa, whose mission is to bring solar, hydraulic and agricultural technologies to rural African villages. Based on her travels in the poor villages of Zambia, she put together a photo-documentary project that was exhibited at the Photo Israel festival in Tel Aviv, where she presents the journeys of three women from different generations who recount the challenges of lack of access to clean water and their new lives once the water is restored.
More than 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to drinking water, and one in three suffers from water-related illnesses due to lack of clean drinking water. Since its creation in 2008 by Sivan Ya'ari, Innovation Africa has completed more than 950 solar and water projects, providing lighting and access to drinking water for over 4.2 million people in 10 African countries.
“It's unbelievable what's happening out there, people are living without this vital need. Women and girls are responsible for fetching water, they spend millions of hours searching every nook and cranny and are thus exposed to dangers: animal attacks but also domestic violence because when they leave the house for 10 hours to fetch water, the family doesn't understand and this leads to violence. They can't work or study, because the search for water plays a major role in their lives, and the lack of water has multiple effects on the society”, explains Tamar Shemesh.
Based on the Photovoice methodology, Tamar's work combines classic portraits with Polaroid images captured by the African women themselves. The photographs give an intimate and direct insight into the impact of clean water on their lives, offering a unique and personal perspective. The photographs and accompanying textual interpretation allow the women to take ownership of the visual narrative.
“With the women's photos and testimonials, I recreated a narrative that highlights these heroines and their journey, it was important to me that they recount their daily lives, which are so different from ours,” says Tamar.
Tamar has selected three women of different generations from Kondwelani, a village in the Sinda district of Zambia's Eastern Province. Agatha in her sixties, Jessie in her forties and Monica in her twenties.
“These women expose the water-related challenges they've faced for years, which have been passed down from generation to generation. Their village was supplied with drinking water two years ago, and it has literally changed their lives. Through their personal stories and experiences, they tell of a global problem that continues today”, explains Tamar.
Through the eyes of women
On several occasions, Tamar traveled to Zambia and met the heroines of her photo project, a real mission and culture shock for the young woman. “It was a real challenge because these women are not used to being photographed, they don't have Iphones, cameras or access to social networks, the only photos they have are those in their passports”, says Tamar.
Using disposable cameras, the women proudly photographed their gardens, vegetable plots and the basins where they were able to wash dishes, clothes and clothes, thanks to the village's new drinking water supply. A revolution that has also enabled them to earn a living, for some by selling their fruit and vegetable crops to the neighborhood.
The exhibition was presented in Africa, in the presence of leaders, mayors and influential personalities, in the hope of advancing the process of installing water technologies in many villages.
Caroline Haïat
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