They’re Changing Their World With Eyes Wide Open

Seeing is believing—which means that sharing a positive vision with your neighbors can change your world. UAE Goodwill Photographers is putting this insight to good practice by making local photographers conduits of their communities’ realities.

The goal, says the group’s founder Slava Noor, is “to transform society while perfecting its members’ photography skills.” The group welcomes “anyone with a love of photography,” the young and well-established photographer adds, making it “extremely diverse in terms of nationalities and backgrounds,” with photographers from Oman, Sudan, Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, the Ukraine, Hungary, and the Philippines.

Besides covering local cultural events, it multiplies shared connections through photo walks on which photographers meet new neighbors through their lenses, providing “a unique opportunity to meet each other in the offline world and share skills while exploring the city,” Slava explains. It also works with adult special needs students from Mawaheb Art Studio, two of whom took part in the latest photo walk through Al-Khor.

On February 22, the team will cover “Reaching U”, an event dedicated to special-needs children. In her experience, Slava says, “all we really have to give is love and understanding, and simply enjoy spending time together.”

For more info – UAE Goodwill Photographers’ website and Facebook page