Portraits of Resilience: Women Deminers in Iraq
CISR
This headline is brought to you by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR) which works to support resilience and recovery in global communities affected by war and conflict.
(PetaPixel) Setting up in Iraq's Kurdistan, I expected to photograph traditional Yazidi women, only to find them combining cultural attire with modern influences, such as Adidas sneakers. This project, marking the 10th anniversary of the Yazidi genocide, shattered my preconceptions as I documented the stories of women deminers from Yazidi, Kurdish, and Arab backgrounds. Their lives reflect a blend of cultural heritage, modern aspirations, and the harsh realities of clearing landmines. The tension of the region, underscored by a security alarm and personal challenges, added complexity to my task.
Each portrait required creative problem-solving to capture these women's essence and resilience. From a Yazidi woman posing like a TikTok star to a Kurdish engineer demining her homeland, their stories revealed deep contradictions and unexpected moments of connection. This experience profoundly impacted my approach to photography, emphasizing the importance of embracing the unexpected and finding deeper stories beneath the surface.
