I wish the world could look at images of beauty and resilience and feel compelled to act.
I wish people would see photographs by Nuru photographers, photos that capture the spirit and challenges of the life of the poor in the developing world, and share these photos, these stories, more than 70 million times. Not out of pity, but out of joy.
I wish that, at my local Starbucks at 6:30 on Saturday morning, instead of seeing Kony2012 posters in the window I’d see one of these beautiful photographs from Lagos, Nigeria; from Nairobi, Kenya; from Chennai or from Bhopal in India.
The Nuru project curates breathtaking images from around the world, shares them with the public and uses the proceeds to help nonprofits. Their first partnership was with Acumen Fund, and together with +acumen chapters, they have helped us raise more than $150,000.
The pictures tell a different story – one of connectedness, one of shared possibility, one of dignity.
I know this blog post and the Nuru site won’t get seen hundreds of millions of times. But if you love photography, maybe you will check out the site and buy a print for a dear friend. Maybe you will email the one photography buff you know and let them know about it. Maybe you’ll spread the word on Facebook and on Twitter about this “this gr8 stuff u hve 2 see NOW!!!”
Let’s start spreading a different story.