The Rotary International Humanitarian Reporting Award 2008 was presented today to international photo journalist Lee Karen Stow. Lee was nominated by The Rotary Club of Hull Paragon, supported by District 1270 Communications Committee.
Presenting the award Allan O Jagger, President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland said: "This awardrecognises outstanding humanitarian-based news reporting and the contribution made by journalists in helping the general public better understand humanitarian, health, education and cross-cultural issues. Lee is a very worthy winner as her work has highlighted many humanitarian global issues over many years both locally and internationally."
Lee Karen Stow has reported on humanitarian issues over the past 20 years. Her articles have appeared in the UK’s leading publications, including The Times and Geographical Magazine. Of particular note is her Times feature on the brick kiln donkeys of Cairo and the children who work them. Lee also reported in TheTimes on the 15 years which followed the uprisings in Romania. Geographical Magazine carried her report on Malawi’s 800,000 children orphaned by HIV/Aids, malaria and poverty.
More recently her work has taken her to Freetown, Sierra Leone where she is empowering women to tell their stories through photography. Her numerous articles on a variety of humanitarian issues demonstrate her passion to tell the stories making us aware of those facing incredible challenges in order to survive daily life.
Lee grew up in one of Hull’s largest council estates and is largely self taught. She began in the late 1980’s as a freelance using a set up grant from the Prince’s Youth BusinessTrust. In 1991, at just 25, she was picked from over 3,000 finalists as the winner of the regional heat of the Trust’s Businessperson of the Year. Over the years she has drawn inspiration from such greats as John Pilger and Fergal Keane butwar reporter Martha Gelhorn is her icon. Tuition from National Geographical photographer, Sam Abell has, she says, helped her gain a deeper understanding of photography. Such sensitive guidance isproving crucial as her work takes her to another level.
Lee’s unfaltering commitment to those people she encountersthrough her work is never more evident than in her projects inFreetown, Hull’s twin city. Here, lee has found what shedescribes as her strongest calling.
Lee explains: "It all began when Hull started planning forthe 2007 Wilberforce Celebrations. From my humanitarian reporting Iknew that I had something to offer and it was through my love ofphotography that I conceived the project ‘WilberforceWomen’ using photography to provide positive connectionsbetween the women of Hull and the women of Freetown.
"From my first visit to Sierra Leone in 2007 to deliver thephotographic workshops to women, I was overwhelmed by the sheerenthusiasm and their desperate need to learn new skills such asphotography and journalism, to help improve their situations. I seethis as a lifetime’s project and a life-long relationship withthe women, many of whom have now become mu friends.
"I am constantly reminded how privileged I am as a womanwho is able to learn photography and is able to express herthoughts and creativity freely. I am also humbled by the fact thatthese women have to overcome such immense barriers simply in orderto live and work as human beings – something what everyone has aright to.
"I am so thankful that organisations like Rotary are makingstrong commitments to helping the people of Sierra Leone, a countryranked by the UN as the poorest country on Earth, a place wherewomen are so rich in strength and abilities. I believe they canachieve anything if only they are given a little support andopportunity."
Rotary International is a worldwide association of men and womenwho collectively aim to provide humanitarian service and resourcesto the community at local, national and international levels andwho work for goodwill and peace in the world. RotaryFoundation’s "PolioPlus" project, for example, hascontributed substantially towards the polio eradicationprogramme.
13/04/08
