Finding freedom in the water – the photo nominated for the World Press Photo Award
Finding Freedom in the Water
This is the name of the photo cycle of Anna Boyiazis, which was published this year by the National Geographic and has been nominated for the prestigious World Press Photo contest. Kazija, a swimming instructor (22) teaches women and girls at the Kijini Primary School to float in the waters of the Indian Ocean at Muyuni Beach on the African island of Zanzibar.
Muslim girls are discouraged from swimming
Girls and women from the island of Zanzibar cannot swim. They have traditionally been discouraged from swimming, largely due to strict Islamic culture and the absence of comfortable and appropriate ladies' clothing for swimming. You will certainly not find local women wearing luxury swimsuits. Not even on the northern tip of the island of Zanzibar, where the situation is different, and girls and women here can attend swimming classes.
The project called Big Fish teaches women to swim
In the north of Zanzibar a project called Panje (translated as big fish) was created. It offers the opportunity for local women and girls to learn to swim. They don't wear swimsuits, but they learn to swim in clothes that cover their entire body. They can thus go into the water without endangering their cultural or religious beliefs.
Meet Anna Boyiazis
Anna Boyiazis focuses on photography, human rights, public health, and women's issues around the world. Through her photographs, she tries to bring humanity and compassion to the foreground. She has exhibited in many world galleries and participated in campaigns to fight violence against women. She has collaborated with international artistic and architectural organizations and has published several great publications with them.
