‘Woman! Life! Freedom!’

The Middle East Images Foundation has played a significant role in portraying the ongoing Iran’s revolution by publishing photos and serving as a bridge between Iranian protestors and the rest of the world.

MEI Foundation

Middle East Images Foundation presents Middle Eastern photography by accomplished local artists who seek to share their deep understandings of home through visual storytelling in critical global topics such as climate change, conflicts, and women’s rights. Our team of experienced photographers is committed to portraying these subjects from a culturally responsible point of view, incorporating aspects of the Middle Eastern experience beyond what mass media typically allows. Our goal is to uplift a visual narrative of the Middle East from within, where local photographers with a global vision can continue to document their homeland long-term, sharing their lens with the rest of the world.

Middle East Images Foundation primarily focuses on providing educational opportunities for budding journalists as a means of fostering and cultivating the visual-storytelling fields of photography and independent journalism. The Middle East Images Foundation bridges international access to publishing resources for photographers residing in conflict-torn areas which normally lack access to these opportunities. The Foundation also supports immigrant and refugee journalists in the US by giving them access to the resources and tools they need to pursue fulfilling careers in their newly adopted homes.

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More Than

Journalists, Photographers, Videographers, Citizen Journalism

Active projects

CORE VALUES

Education

Providing educational opportunities for budding photographers and journalists in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on fostering and cultivating the visual storytelling fields of photography and independent journalism.

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Cultural understanding

Seeking to connect and build bridges between cultures in the Middle East and North Africa, including through collaborative projects and the development of an archive of images from the last 50 years of the region.

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Safety

Working to ensure the safety and protection of local photographers and journalists in the Middle East and North Africa, including through the provision of safety equipment and training.

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Advocacy

Advocating for the rights of local photographers and journalists, including through the promotion of freedom of expression and access to publishing resources.

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Climate Impact

Promoting environmental sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa through the work of photographers and journalists, and supporting initiatives that aim to protect and preserve the region’s natural.

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Social impact

Seeking to make a positive social impact through the sharing of visual narratives of the Middle East and North Africa, including through the portrayal of critical global topics such as climate change, conflicts, and women’s rights.

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Organizational Pillars

In order to achieve our mission, we rely on a number of key pillars that guide our work and inform our decision-making. These pillars include:

Diversity and inclusion

Promoting diversity and inclusion within the organization, and in the photographers and journalists that it supports. This may include support for underrepresented groups such as women, immigrants, and refugees.

Sustainability

Promoting sustainability in the organization’s operations, including through the use of environmentally friendly practices and the support of sustainable development in the Middle East and North Africa.

Professional development

Providing professional development opportunities for photographers and journalists, including through training and mentorship programs.

Collaboration

Encouraging collaboration within the organization, and with other organizations, photographers, and journalists in the region.

Community engagement

Engaging with local communities in the Middle East and North Africa, and working to support their needs and aspirations through the organization’s programs and initiatives.

Projects

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‘Woman! Life! Freedom!’

The official state religion in Iran is Islam, to be specific the Shiite branch of Islam which consists of roughly more than 90% of the population. Less than 10% identify as Sunni and Sufi sects of Islam. Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism are protected and recognized by the Iranian...

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Climate Change

8 local photographers within our foundation out of various Middle Eastern countries are currently working on a project that captures the recent climate crises ravaging Middle Eastern countries such as including Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey.

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Religions

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Conflict & The Aftermath

For much of their recent histories, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and the region of Kurdistan have been riddled with endless wars and political conflicts. As a result, there has been a steady degradation of the areas’ cultures and qualities of life, which we aim to portray with our various in-depth projects.