Ethiopia remains one of the least urbanized countries in the world.
Over 85 percent of Ethiopian women reside in rural areas, where
peasant families are engaged primarily in subsistence agriculture.
Traditionally, women in Ethiopia have suffered sociocultural and
economic discrimination and have had fewer opportunities than men
for personal growth, education, and employment. Although massive
economic development is underway in Ethiopia, it has had little impact
on the lives of rural women. Breaking deep-rooted traditional values
and beliefs regarding women is needed in order to bring real
improvements.
Originally being educated as an engineer, Yan Li received his Ph.D. degree in 2012. His solid knowledge of technologies, engineering and industry makes him understand what is transforming people’s lifestyles in the Information Age. He has the passion of traveling worldwide to admire the diversities on earth which are unfortunately facing challenges during the rapid urbanization and globalization. His photographic work focuses on capturing the fleeting moments of human experience, revealing personal stories of peoples, and documenting the fascinating yet vanishing cultures. He is the winner and finalist of various prestigious awards, including the International Photography Awards (IPA), the Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3), the Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) and the National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year.
