STORIES

Everybody has a story to tell.

Najib has been a cabinetmaker since his teenage years. He now owns a small workshop in the heart of Tunis, Tunisia. The day I took this picture, he was making 50 small favor boxes for a wedding. 2025

Najib has been a cabinetmaker since his teenage years. He now owns a small workshop in the heart of Tunis, Tunisia. The day I took this picture, he was making 50 small favor boxes for a wedding. 2025

Krishna lives in Kathmandu, Nepal. He lost his house during the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2015. He and his son managed to build a temporary shelter using bricks salvaged from the rubble of their home. "My priority is to build a roof for my family,

Krishna lives in Kathmandu, Nepal. He lost his house during the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2015. He and his son managed to build a temporary shelter using bricks salvaged from the rubble of their home. "My priority is to build a roof for my family, but I don't have enough money right now." 2015

Virginia was born in Nazaré in the 1950s. She lived in France with her husband for a while before deciding to return to Portugal after they separated. Over the years, she held many different jobs, including planting eucalyptus trees. She is now retir

Virginia was born in Nazaré in the 1950s. She lived in France with her husband for a while before deciding to return to Portugal after they separated. Over the years, she held many different jobs, including planting eucalyptus trees. She is now retired and rents out an apartment with a parking space to tourists during the summer. Nazaré, Portugal 2025

Claude François grew up in Port-au-Prince, where he still lives with his family. When the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck in January 2010, they were all at home. The entire house collapsed, but it was built with very light materials, so no one was in

Claude François grew up in Port-au-Prince, where he still lives with his family. When the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck in January 2010, they were all at home. The entire house collapsed, but it was built with very light materials, so no one was injured. "I feel confident about Haiti. It's actually safer now than before the earthquake because people are focused on finding their relatives. I am sure Haiti will rise again soon." 2010

Bou Meng is known as one of only seven adult survivors of the S-21 Khmer Rouge prison camp in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He was detained and tortured for more than two years, between 1976 and 1979. "Duch, the prison chief, knew I was an artist, so he aske

Bou Meng is known as one of only seven adult survivors of the S-21 Khmer Rouge prison camp in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He was detained and tortured for more than two years, between 1976 and 1979. "Duch, the prison chief, knew I was an artist, so he asked me to paint portraits of Pol Pot, Lenin, Ho Chi Minh, and others. Painting saved my life." 2013

In August 2017, when armed groups and the military targeted Rohingya communities in Myanmar, around one million people fled to Bangladesh. Shahisa and her son, Abdhu, were working in the fields when their village was attacked. "It took us three days

In August 2017, when armed groups and the military targeted Rohingya communities in Myanmar, around one million people fled to Bangladesh. Shahisa and her son, Abdhu, were working in the fields when their village was attacked. "It took us three days to cross the border. A family welcomed us here and gave us food. We now live in the camp. I was separated from my daughters and my husband during the attack. I never saw them again." 2023

During the summer holidays, T.A. raps on the streets of Paihia, New Zealand. He has been freestyling for 20 years. Give him a theme, and he will rap about it on the spot. Any donation helps support his T-shirt business. 2016

During the summer holidays, T.A. raps on the streets of Paihia, New Zealand. He has been freestyling for 20 years. Give him a theme, and he will rap about it on the spot. Any donation helps support his T-shirt business. 2016

Nazar is a 20-year-old from Ukraine. He takes pictures of tourists in Geneva, prints them on mock A4 newspaper front pages, and sells them for whatever price the tourists are willing to pay. He tried the same business in Barcelona and Lisbon, but, as

Nazar is a 20-year-old from Ukraine. He takes pictures of tourists in Geneva, prints them on mock A4 newspaper front pages, and sells them for whatever price the tourists are willing to pay. He tried the same business in Barcelona and Lisbon, but, as he puts it, "there was too much competition." He and his family left Ukraine three months after the war resumed in 2022. Since the outbreak of the conflict, almost seven million Ukrainians have crossed into neighboring countries. 2025

Simon is a carpenter who lives on the island of Ambrym, Vanuatu. "I learned carpentry from my father. Then I attended training courses in Port Vila and here on Ambrym with international organizations. I do not build houses because people here usually

Simon is a carpenter who lives on the island of Ambrym, Vanuatu. "I learned carpentry from my father. Then I attended training courses in Port Vila and here on Ambrym with international organizations. I do not build houses because people here usually build their own homes. Instead, I construct public infrastructure such as kindergartens, schools, and community centers across the island." 2016

Chot has been driving a taxi in Bangkok, Thailand, since 1992. He is now 72 years old. Originally from Chon Buri, southeast of the capital, he remembers a very different city when he first arrived. "When I came to Bangkok for the first time, there we

Chot has been driving a taxi in Bangkok, Thailand, since 1992. He is now 72 years old. Originally from Chon Buri, southeast of the capital, he remembers a very different city when he first arrived. "When I came to Bangkok for the first time, there were no highways, no Skytrain, and hardly any traffic. There were only two-lane roads." 2024