IMAGINE LIGHT
Reading time: 10 minutes - October 04, 2021 - by Hanna Witte - From the Schnappschuss
IMAGINE LIGHT brings clean solar power to indigenous peoples in the rainforest. Hanna Witte, who studied photo design, has been working as a photographer for 14 years and was allowed to accompany the project.
Hanna Witte
Hanna WitteThe organization LOVE FOR LIFE as a driving force
In my private life, I enjoy traveling, especially in the mountains and in nature. I always love to see and learn something new from the world and discover it from new angles. The focus of my work is on reportage and portrait photography. I like to show people as they are, to get an insight into processes or companies with their employees and to understand how they work. I love capturing real people and their emotions in pictures. I would never feel comfortable in an artificial fashion world.
At IMAGINE LIGHT I was able to combine my personal and professional interests. I was invited to accompany the implementation of this solar energy project of the German non-profit organization LOVE FOR LIFE as an NGO photographer. This project was developed in collaboration with the Ceibo Alliance, an association of indigenous peoples in the north-eastern Amazon region of Ecuador. For six weeks, I traveled through the South American state and gained an insight into the fascinating culture of the indigenous peoples and the wonderful IMAGINE LIGHT project. LOVE FOR LIFE had learned about the joint mission of four indigenous peoples. Together, they realized a project that provides sustainable access to clean and independent solar energy. In doing so, they supported these people, who are also the guardians of one of our planet's last natural treasures, the Amazon rainforest.
Hanna WitteIt started with a toxic tour
Our project started with a so-called "Toxic Tour", which moved me deeply. A huge part of the entire Amazon region has been destroyed by oil extraction. We drove for hours through primeval forests and were repeatedly shown large holes in the ground filled with waste oil and toxic water. This situation threatens the entire flora and fauna as well as the indigenous peoples, who are very close to nature. They live from and with nature. They are therefore dependent on clean drinking water, which is no longer available due to this huge man-made environmental pollution.
Hanna Witte
Hanna Witte
Hanna WitteSupporting indigenous peoples and providing clean electricity
One partner project aimed to give local people access to clean drinking water. Imagine Light itself was about supporting the indigenous people in the villages and providing clean electricity. They themselves were trained as technicians to set up and maintain the systems. Despite their remoteness, the people now have a lot of contact with the outside world. The children go to school and almost all of them have smartphones. When electricity was previously needed, it was generated by generators. This is of course expensive, loud and not exactly environmentally friendly.
During the project, I photographed what was happening on site. It was a kind of reportage photography that was used for public relations and sponsors. I also wanted to capture and show the people and their culture. It is a wonderful and unique culture that will probably gradually disappear.
Don't just see the dark side!
We visited a total of five villages. Some of them were five hours by canoe from the nearest road. When we arrived in a village, I usually approached the children first and spent the first few days with them. Communication was of course very limited due to the language barrier, but it also worked well with hands and feet. The children had a lot of time and were also interested in me. They showed me exciting places nearby and how they live there. I was impressed by how they move around in nature. After a few days on site, it became easier and easier and more and more people wanted to take part in the photo project.
With all the negative news about the climate crisis, I often find it difficult not to lose heart and paint everything in black. There are so many great little projects and people who are working for change and who believe in it. That gives me hope.
Hanna Witte
