In Gaza, Cameras and Lenses are a Lifeline

On July 3rd, Sanad Latifa's camera broke.  Not only is his camera the key to his making a living, Sanad's photography is a lifeline for Gaza. Without photography, no one would know what is happening in the Gaza Strip.

Help Sanad replace his broken camera, and help his colleagues, Mohammed Mansour and Walid Mahmoud, upgrade their cameras and lenses.  Together, they will publish their photo journal book, From Lens to Story: Gaza Photographers Dream. Although we can't send camera equipment through the blockade, Rebuilding Alliance can safely wire your donations to our partner NGO in Gaza, for local purchase of the cameras and lenses on behalf of these three talented photographers.

From Lens to Story

Sanad Latefa and Mohammed Mansour make up Rebuilding Alliance's photography team in Gaza and are launching their careers as photojournalists. Walid Mahmoud is an experienced photojournalist whose work has been featured on Al-Jazeera and Middle East Eye. 



Introducing Sanad, Mohammed, and Walid

• Sanad Latifa, 24, lives in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.  He photographs daily life, hoping to show life is like behind the Siege. Check out Sanad's Instagram page to see his work. 
  
  Every photographer hopes their work will make a difference.  Sanad's  photo of the wedding dress amidst rubble went viral in Gaza, prompting storekeepers to pitch-in to replace all that was lost in the bombing, and making it possible for Fadi and Yara to get married (see Middle East Eye for the story). 
  
  Please help Sanad invite the world to see Gaza through his eyes. Sanad asks your help to buy a Canon 5D Mark 4 (the newest one) and a Canon 70-200-2.8 lens, at a cost of $5500 USD. 
  

• Mohammad Mansour (25) lives in Rafah and is drawn to light and motion. When you see Mohammad walking, he's capturing scenes, people, moments. His passion for photography was born from its power to relieve negativity. Photography gives Mohammad space to breath and live and express his feelings. Mohammad's work helped launch Rebuilding Alliance's Brighten the Future of Gaza's Children program, sending 35,600 solar lights through the blockade to Gaza's children.
  
  Mohammad's wish is to live a life of freedom and dignity and to be able to travel and take more photos. Though he dreams of opening a photography studio, he had to sell his camera to make ends meet. He asks your help to buy a Canon 5D Mark 4 and a Canon 85-1.2 lens at a cost of $5115 USD.

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• Walid Mahmoud (29) is a freelance photojournalist and activist who lives in Gaza City. Walid photographs, documents, and writes about daily life in Gaza, working to find the inspirational and human in the unbearable. His work is featured on Al-Jazeera and Middle East Eye, and on social media sites including @JewishVoiceforPeace, and news agencies. Walid notes, "My camera was targeted by the Israeli occupation army on
  March 3, 2019 when an Israeli sniper shot directly into my lens."
  
  Walid asks your help to buy a Canon 5D Mark 4 and a Canon 85-1.2 lens, at a total cost of $5115 USD.
  

Here's How You Can Help

Help these photographers achieve their dreams by donating and by sharing this campaign with your friends and family so that they too have the opportunity to help. Also, you can also support these photographers by directly commissioning their work.

Please consider supporting this project with ANY donation amount.

Your support will give a voice to these Palestinian photographers beyond language and borders. Your gift will support Palestinian media!  Please give now.