I Am Because We Are

Ilvy Njiokiktjien

With a higher proportion of the Dutch population finding co-living as a solution to the rising cost of living, providing elder-care, living sustainably, and coping with loneliness, alternative options have become more available and diverse. Njiokiktjien’s project investigates co-living arrangements across the Netherlands, offering insight into what is leading people to choose this lifestyle.

This reportage has been supported by the Solutions Visual Journalism Initiative, organized by World Press Photo Foundation and MIAP Foundation.

Artist Bios

Ilvy Njiokiktjien

Ilvy Njiokiktjien is a photojournalist, filmmaker, podcast host and educator who has been creating and sharing stories for almost two decades. She is based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and is a Contributing Photographer to the VII Foundation and a Canon Ambassador. Njiokiktjien is committed to documenting the social and political issues that shape our world. Her work is characterized by a sensitive eye and a compassionate and personal relationship with her subjects. For 12 years, she chronicled South Africa’s first post-apartheid generation. Njiokiktjien became intrigued by these young adults and portrayed them in her own, personal and intimate style. The result is the project Born Free – Mandela’s Generation of Hope, which sparked a documentary, an interactive website, a book, feature articles, and a traveling exhibition.

Organizations

The VII Foundation

The VII Foundation’s mission is to transform visual journalism by empowering new voices and creating stories that advocate change. In a world where beliefs and actions are increasingly out-of-sync with facts and realities, transforming visual journalism is an urgent task. Education is at the heart of The VII Foundation. To deliver our mission, we have an educational stream of three programs – VII Academy, VII Community (in partnership with PhotoWings), and VII Insider (in partnership with PhotoWings).