Between 2011 and 2016, more than 33,300 Africans lost their lives to violent extremism. The growth of violent extremism has set in motion a dramatic reversal of development gains in Africa, and is also threatening to stunt prospects of development for years to come. Africa bears the brunt of the impact of terrorism in lives lost, economies ruined and relationships fractured. Extremists target public spaces such as markets and bus stations, forcing people to make a choice between risking death by going to work, or risking the very survival of their families.
In response, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Africa has developed a strategy to prevent and respond to violent extremism through a development lens.
In the photo exhibition, “Stories of Survivors,” the UNDP and photographer Malin Fezehai seek to shed light on and amplify the voices of those who often suffer in silence. Theirs are stories of resilience, perseverance and the triumph of humanity, as they rebuild their lives again. The survivors’ diverse religious, ethnic and national backgrounds highlight that violent extremism is a shared burden, and one that humanity, as a whole, must respond to.
Artist Bios
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Malin Fezehai
Malin Fezehai is a Swedish/Eritrean New York-based photographer and filmmaker working and traveling in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and America. Malin’s career began in her native country of Sweden, where she studied photography before moving to New York to enroll at the International Center of Photography. Malin Fezehai’s work focuses mainly on communities of displaced and dislocated persons around the world.
In 2014, Malin Fezehai’s work on African asylum seekers in detention was a LightBox feature for TIME magazine. In 2015, her image depicting a wedding of Eritrean refugees was the first iPhone image to ever receive a World Press Photo Award. In the same year, Malin Fezehai was awarded the Wallis Annenberg Prize and named one of “30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch” by Photo District News.
In “Stories of Survivors,” Malin Fezehai has joined hands with the United Nations Development Programme to portray survivors of violent extremism across the African continent.
Organizations
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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with communities, governments, and the private sector to fight poverty and inequality around the world, and to protect the planet. Working in nearly 170 countries and territories, we strive to empower communities and help build nations that can withstand crisis and disasters, sustain peace, and improve the quality of life for everyone.
Stories of Survivors
Featuring: Malin Fezehai
Locations
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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