If you’re a keen photographer with a passion for making an impact, we’d love to have you join this NGO Photography Program in Africa! It’s a great opportunity to sharpen your skills, learn about the role photography can play to nonprofits, and document the work by inspiring social and environmental impact work.
It’s also a chance to explore a beautiful destination, you’ll be based in Nkhata Bay, Malawi.
Images are a powerful tool in telling the right stories, and if they reach potential donors, this can have a great impact. We work with charities focused on education, sports coaching, eco-education, female empowerment, animal welfare, urban greening, food security, coaching, and much more.
You’ll sharpen your skills, learn how to approach NGO photography, and document projects in the field. You can then donate a selection of images to the non-profit initiatives you’ve documented, so that they can be used to raise awareness and funds.
You can join this non-profit photography course for two, three or four weeks. During the first week, you’ll enjoy a workshop by a professional photographer specialized in documenting the work of non-profit causes. This will help you hone your skills and gain insights into the best ways to approach NGO photography. From the second week, you’ll embark on your own photography assignments.
Nkhata Bay, Malawi
Kamuzu International Airport
Starts: 19th May 2024
2-4 weeks
Impact: NGO & Charity
Nkhata Bay is a collection of rural communities on the western shores of Lake Malawi, a huge freshwater lake with glistening water and sandy beaches. You’ll be based on right on the beach, while working in the friendly and welcoming communities that surround you.
You’ll be based in a lovely eco-lodge on the shores of Lake Malawi. With views of the lake, you’ll stay in private en-suite chalets, and you’ll have full use of the lakeside bar, restaurant, and other communal spaces. There’s free use of snorkels and paddle boards, and you can hang out in hammocks on a private beach. The lodge also serves as a hub for local nonprofit organizations, so it’s a perfect base for our program.
May is the perfect time of year to visit Nkhata bay in Mawali, it is pleasantly warm!
Your first week will be spent on a workshop taught by humanitarian photographer Anna Lusty. This workshop will be partly theoretical, and partly practical, with non-profit projects in the field. Throughout the week, Anna will give you a good understanding of how to document the work of charities in a culturally sensitive way, and in a way that will best convey the mission and impact of a non-profit.
From the second week, you’ll enjoy individual non-profit photography assignments – either by yourself, or with one or two other photographers. You’ll spend Monday to Friday with your organization, getting to know its vision and mission, and photographing its projects. At the end of each week, there will be an opportunity to spend time on post production, discuss the week with Anna, and create a selection of images that you’ll donate to your organization. The non-profit can then use your photographs for their digital marketing and fundraising campaigns.
You’ll have plenty of time to observe the projects, learn about the organisation’s mission and vision, and document the work at your own pace. You’ll have a contact point at the organisation who will assist you, and we’ll be checking in regularly to ensure things are going well.
Each weekend is time off, so that you have plenty of time to rest or explore your area.
After each week, you’ll have a session with Anna to assess your project, review your images, and – if you’re staying longer – discuss the next project. This will most likely happen online.
Your first week will be spent on a workshop taught by humanitarian photographer Anna Lusty. This workshop will be partly theoretical, and partly practical, with non-profit projects in the field. Throughout the week, Anna will give you a good understanding of how to document the work of charities in a culturally sensitive way, and in a way that will best convey the mission and impact of a non-profit.
From the second week, you’ll enjoy individual non-profit photography assignments – either by yourself, or with one or two other photographers. You’ll spend Monday to Friday with your organization, getting to know its vision and mission, and photographing its projects. At the end of each week, there will be an opportunity to spend time on post production, discuss the week with Anna, and create a selection of images that you’ll donate to your organization. The non-profit can then use your photographs for their digital marketing and fundraising campaigns.
You’ll have plenty of time to observe the projects, learn about the organisation’s mission and vision, and document the work at your own pace. You’ll have a contact point at the organisation who will assist you, and we’ll be checking in regularly to ensure things are going well.
Each weekend is time off, so that you have plenty of time to rest or explore your area.
After each week, you’ll have a session with Anna to assess your project, review your images, and – if you’re staying longer – discuss the next project. This will most likely happen online.
In Zambia, you can spot a whole lot of wildlife, with elephants being particularly prevalent along the river banks. Go on a bushwalks to see rhino or even take a boat safari to spot elephants off the Zambezi River. Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park offers a convenient safari where you can spot elephant, zebra and more, against beautiful backdrops of the Zambezi River. The real highlight of the park is the re-introduced white rhino, which you can track on foot in a thrilling wildlife encounter! Across the border in Botswana is Chobe National Park, famed for its huge elephant population (currently estimated at over 120,000!). An overnight safari to this National Park is a popular weekend activity that many past volunteers have enjoyed.
Livingstone is known as “Africa’s Adventure Capital” because there is so much to see and do. Take advantage of your proximity to the great and mighty Victoria Falls, as well as the other adventures the Zambezi has to offer. Zambezi boat cruises, white water rafting, and canoe trips are all ways in which you can encounter these great waters. You can also ride quad bike trails, swim in “Devil’s Pool” (seasonal) or view the breath-taking scenery from the air in a microlight or helicopter. For the adrenaline junkies, why not try the famous bungee jump or gorge swing?
Cape Town has many iconic sites that make for great photograph opportunities. Take a boat trip to Seal Island, visit the celebrated Robben Island and of course, stand on top of the world-renowned Table Mountain, reaching it either by foot or cable car. A convenient and fun way to see more of what the city has to offer is to take the Hop-on, Hop-off City Tour bus. You will also have a chance to do some shopping and enjoy fine dining at the V&A Waterfront or at one of the many local food markets. Although the water may be just a little cold, Cape Town has plenty of beautiful beaches to visit, each with its own unique atmosphere. If you are keen to explore the waters, you can dive with the sharks or take a tour to Cape Point Peninsula where you will have a chance to swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach.
Cape Town has something for everyone. If you’re not really a city slicker and prefer to discover what nature has to offer, you can experience an African Safari at Aquila Safari – a “Big 5” private game reserve with animals such as the springbok, lion, cape porcupine, olive baboon, leopard, and African elephant. Cape Point is also a nature enthusiast’s paradise with many buck, baboons, Cape Mountain Zebras, birds, and a variety of flora and fauna unique to the area.
Give us an idea of your travel plans, you can also say ‘I’m not sure yet.’ We’ll take it from there.
This is the place to select your preferred duration(s). The African Impact team recommend at least 4 weeks for a truly memorable experience!
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To become a non profit photography participant, you’ll need to have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a good understanding of technical camera use, basic post-production skills, and some experience photographing. You don’t need to be a seasoned pro, but you do need to know your way around a photographic opportunity. And, needless to say, you need to be excited by the idea of photographing non profit projects.
We work with a range of social impact, environmental, and animal welfare causes. We’ll try to match you with organisations you feel mostly passionate about.
A lot! Anna will help you sharpen your technical photography and post production skills. But mostly, and quite uniquely, you’ll learn the role photography plays in the non profit sector, and how to effectively document the work of an NGO. You’ll learn in theory and in practice, and you can expect to leave with an inspiring portfolio of images.
To apply for this photography course, we’ll ask you for your motivation, the level of your photography experience, and a portfolio of images. Just get in touch, and we’ll send you a form to fill out. We look forward to hearing from you!
