Witness Change

10 years ago, Witness Change began with a small team and a bold vision: to use visual storytelling to amplify marginalized voices. Since then, we’ve built a decade of impact, resilience, and community.

This story will be displayed at the Bronx Documentary Center, NYC from April 3. “When I left my home, my dream was always... to work, to make a living and to be my own boss," recalls Lady Chavarría (31), a transgender woman from El Salvador currently in New York. #1000Dreams

“I do think social media creates unrealistic beauty standards because no one’s going to have a perfect nose and no one’s going to have a perfect symmetrical face.” 13-year-old Felicity from #Maryland talks about life, #mentalhealth and social media. #youthmentalhealth

"I'm a satirist. I'm an entertainer. And yes I'm a drag queen. Quite a public one in fact,” says Shelah a #drag performer from #Malaysia. Shelah shared their story with the #WhereLoveIsIllegal campaign, a platform for #LGBTQI+ stories of #discrimination and #survival.

Kuteesa (left) is a transgender woman and Ernest (right) is gay. They met at Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya after they fled transphobia and homophobia in their home country of Uganda.

“My dreams are to come inland, to feel free and to feel safety." Beaten, jailed, and robbed on the way to Europe, Casio (pseud, 29) "survived this all…to build my new life here." #1000Dreams #refugees

For many, being a teenager is hard. Approximately one-third of high school students report that they struggle with their #mentalhealth. This crisis demands that we listen to young people and recognize the unique challenges they face. In collaboration with @youthempowermentgroupco

17-year-old Xavier from Maryland talks about life, #mentalhealth and grief: "my grandma passed over... it was pretty tough... it was as hard, but it was like draining." #inmyworld

NEW: Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have committed widespread acts of sexual violence in areas of Khartoum over which they exercise control, acts that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. hrw.org/news/2024/07/2…

“I wanted to be alive and live,” says Raha Azadi (pseud, 35), a political #refugee from #Iran. In Germany, he hopes “to be a useful person for my family and surrounding community.” #1000Dreams #Iranian

In Myanmar, changing conflict dynamics are resulting in more abuses and needs. More than three million people have been displaced. The 2024 response plan has less than 15% funding. Read more on our ten humanitarian crises list: ⬇️ buff.ly/4dbWuvv

#Gaza: Searing summer heat and lack of clean drinking water, amid desperate sanitary conditions, increase the risk of dehydration and disease outbreaks. Many displaced people are forced to endure this unbearably horrid situation in inadequate shelters, worsening their suffering.

Refugees and migrants returned from Algeria, including children, often face dire conditions in the desert near the Niger border. Limited resources hamper @Refugees & @UNmigration efforts. Read the report on harrowing land route experiences across Africa➡️bit.ly/3XQHvTp

Over 35 people have been killed and thousands left stranded by severe storms and flash flooding in Afghanistan. The IRC has deployed several mobile health and emergency response teams who are delivering critical support those who are injured and isolated⬇️

Climate change is impacting LGBTIQ people worldwide. The #Caribbean is particularly vulnerable due to frequent climate-related natural disasters, including recent #HurricaneBeryl. Discover why LGBTQ-inclusive disaster response is crucial in the Caribbean. outrightinternational.org/insights/hurri…

(2/2) He is pictured here with his long-term partner, Pinkie (right), a #lesbian woman. Pinkie considers herself lucky that, because she presents as femme, she faces comparatively little of the discrimination common to #LGBTQI+ people in #Jamaica

“I am always on the alert and really on the defensive," explains Mo (left), a police detective and #transgender man from #Jamaica, "because when you have a predominantly male look, like I do, you can never tell when you may become a target." #WhereLoveIsIllegal #LGBTQ+

Today, we filed a case at the Supreme Court of Uganda to challenge the decision by the Court of Appeal rejecting the registration of Sexual Minorities Uganda🏳️‍🌈🇺🇬.

Today’s ruling is a historic victory for equality and human rights in South Korea. The Court has taken a significant step towards dismantling systemic discrimination and ensuring inclusivity for all.

Self-harm can affect anyone. Often the first step to break the cycle is talking to someone you trust. There is help available. 💜 Read our guide: bit.ly/3xQFTyd