Give a Camera, Give a Voice: Empower Rohingya Refugees

Hello, my name is Tom Jacob, and together with Richard Clark and Tetiana Malovana we run The Camera Café Show podcast, where we spotlight stories told through the lens of amazing photographers around the world. Recently, we had the privilege of interviewing Salim Khan, a Rohingya photographer, and volunteer firefighter trainer, living in the Kutupalong refugee camp, Cox Bazaar, in Bangladesh, which is the largest refugee camp in the world today.

Salim is not just any photographer—he is a voice for his people. His dedication to documenting the daily struggles, resilience, and hopes of the Rohingya people has earned him, together with 3 colleagues, Abdullah Habib, Sahat Zia Hero and Shahida Win, international recognition with being awarded the prestigious United Nations 2023 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for Asia & The Pacific.

Salim’s work offers a rare and intimate look into the daily lives and struggles of more than 1,000,000 refugees in Cox Bazar who are often unseen and unheard by the world. Now, he dreams of teaching others in his community the power of photography, so that they, too, can share their stories with the world, and by this ultimately hoping to make a change.

The Rohingya's Daily Struggle: Why This Project Matters

The Rohingya people have endured decades of persecution and violence in Myanmar, culminating in a mass exodus to Bangladesh in 2017. They now live in overcrowded and unsafe conditions in Cox’s Bazar, facing constant challenges like fires, floods, and a lack of basic necessities.

In March 2023, a massive fire tore through one of the camps, displacing 16,000 refugees and destroying more than 2,000 shelters, leaving families with nothing. Flooding is also a constant threat during monsoon season, with tens of thousands displaced by floods each year. Food rations have been cut, and healthcare is extremely limited, often leaving the most vulnerable without access to lifesaving treatment.

Life in the camps is a daily fight for survival, and the lack of educational opportunities and job prospects makes the situation even more dire. Despite these hardships, Salim and his community remain determined to make their voices heard.

As Salim said in our interview: "We want the world to see us not just as refugees, but as human beings with stories that matter."

Our Mission: Teach, Empower, and Share:

Salim's vision is to teach Rohingya youths—many of whom are also first responders to fires, floods, and other crises in the camp—so they can become passionate about photography and document these challenging moments. Through their photography, they can raise awareness about the difficulties the community faces and amplify their voices globally. However, Salim and his community lack the necessary tools to make this dream a reality.

That’s where we come in:

We are aiming to raise $3,000 to support Salim’s vision. These funds will be used to purchase second-hand cameras and photography equipment, as well as to cover the transportation and logistical costs for bringing the donated materials to the camp. Your support will enable Salim to conduct photography workshops, helping to teach Rohingya youths in his community and give them the ability to share their stories.

What Your Support Will Fund:

1. Second-hand cameras (DSLR), Lenses and Other Photography Gear (memory cards, batteries, chargers, backpacks,…)

2. Basic Training Materials for Salim to teach the Rohingya youths.

3. Logistics and Transportation to get the equipment and materials to the camp in Bangladesh.

Salim’s photography has already made a difference. His images have been exhibited internationally, bringing attention to the plight of the Rohingya and being picked up by the United Nations. Now, his goal is to teach young Rohingya to help document life in the camps—stories of survival that the world needs to see.

Why We’re Involved:

At The Camera Cafe Show podcast we believe that photography is a powerful tool for change. When people can see the reality of life in the refugee camps, it fosters understanding, empathy, and, ultimately, action. We started this fundraiser because we believe in Salim’s mission and in the ability of his community to create lasting change through visual storytelling.

Join Us in Making a Difference:

By contributing to this campaign, you are empowering a community to tell its own story, one photo at a time. Your support will help us raise $3,000, which will enable us to send the necessary cameras, training materials, and other resources to Salim and his team in Bangladesh. Together, we can help the Rohingya people raise their voices, share their stories, and bring about change.

If you have spare older cameras that you no longer use, we’d love to include them in the package we’ll be sending to Salim’s community. Please feel free to send us an email and we can see how you can send them to one of our podcast team members. We’ll make sure they reach their new photography students in the refugee camps, where they’ll be used to continue sharing these powerful stories.

Thank You for Your Support!

We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and support. By contributing to this campaign, you’re not only providing cameras and resources—you’re helping an entire community share their stories with the world. Every donation, whether large or small, makes a lasting impact. Together, we can help amplify the voices of the 1.000.000 refugee Rohingya people and bring about real change.

Thank you for standing with us, and with them, in this journey toward hope and empowerment!