As part of the column ‘Women by Women: A Shared Vision,’ created to expand on the theme of our Global open call, we spoke with Sarah Waiswa, founder of African Women in Photography (AWiP)—an organization and community that creates opportunities for African female and non-binary artists working in documentary and fine art photography. AWiP fosters connections with publishers and editors while also supporting the exhibition and publication of their work. We discussed their lived realities, the collaboration with the END Fund, the importance of community, and the power of embracing your authentic self as an artist.

1. How was your project born?

AWP was founded during the pandemic. I felt a strong need to connect with other artists, to understand how the pandemic had affected their work and personal lives, and to use that time to build a community that could hold space for each other, but also create a platform that amplified the voices and stories of women and non-binary photographers from Africa.

2. What are the challenges and prejudices that you encountered in your work, and how did you overcome them?

Challenges are an ongoing part of any journey. We consistently face hurdles like limited resources for programming and administration. However, we’ve found that by leveraging what is available particularly with digital tools and focusing on relationship-building, we are making steady progress.