CROSSINGS the journey to peace

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• Photographer
  Carol Allen-Storey is an award winning photojournalist specialising in chronicling complex humanitarian and social issues. Her imagery illuminating their dignity and quest for survival reflects the un, United Kingdom
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  http://castorey.com
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‘CROSSINGS’ offers a compelling glimpse into the lives of cross-border traders in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and illustrates the potential of this trade to contribute to peace in the region.

The DRC is the third largest country in Africa. Despite its vast mineral wealth, its people are among the poorest in the world. Decades of conflict have left the country devastated. Around two million Congolese citizens have been internally displaced from their homes in North and South Kivu, and hundreds of thousands more have fled to neighbouring countries. Today, armed groups control large areas in the east, creating insecurity and preying on a defenceless population. Combined with the inability of the state to adequately govern, this means that roads and other infrastructure remain dilapidated, millions of people are unable to access basic public services and young people struggle to find jobs.

Yet despite these troubles, life goes on in eastern DRC.

In a region where economic opportunities are limited, small-scale cross-border trade is one of the most important means for ordinary people to feed, clothe and educate their families. Three-quarters of these traders are women. International Alert, the peace building NGO believes cross-border trade offers an important opportunity for peace and prosperity in the region. Since 2009 Alert has been training women traders in business and cooperative skills, supporting dialogue with border officials and authorities, and raising awareness of the daily struggle traders face.

This trade is also a daily reminder of the strong economic links between DRC and its eastern neighbours, Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, despite the political tensions between them. So central is this contribution that in June 2013 the World Bank announced $1 billion in new funding to help, inter alia cross-border trade.

Carol Allen Storey is an award-winning documentary photo journalist specialising in chronicling complex humanitarian and social issues.

“My images are intimate, about issues and citizens I deeply care about. I believe photographs may not be capable of doing the moral work for us, but they can trigger the process of social consciousness.”

In 2000 Carol graduated Central St. Martins, Master Photography Programme with distinction. Storey’s further degrees include an MA at Columbia University and a BA at Syracuse University. A native New Yorker, Storey resides in London

Awards 2020 Winner Julia Margaret Cameron Award
2020 Winner Photojournalism, Color Awards
2020 Finalist AOP Award photojurnalism
2019 1st prize series IPPAWARDS
2019 Association of Photographer, finalist portrait
2018. Lens Culture B&W finalist, juror’s choice
2018 Julia Margaret Cameron Award, nominee
2018 One Eyeland, Landscape finalist
2018 IPA 2nd prize editorial
22014 - PX3 Award Feature stories: ‘CROSSINGS’:Silver, ‘Fractured Lives’ and Bronze
2014 - International Spider Awards – nominee
2014 - Kontinent Awards finalist
2013 - New York Photography Festival finalist
2013 - Social Documentary annual award finalist
2013 - Kontinent Awards – Finalist documentary projects
2013 - ‘Act of Kindness Award – First Prize
2013 - International Spider Award - nominee
2013 - Taylor Wessing National Portrait Gallery Award - exhibition
2012 - Photo Annual Award – Motion Series Honourable mention
2012 - PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris – Honourable Mention Altered Images
2012 - Photocrafti Award finalist
2012 - The Moving Walls International exhibition
2011 - The Press Photographer’s Year - finalist
2011 - Taylor Wessing National Portrait Gallery Award - exhibition
2011 - Lucie Foundation Scholarship – short listed
2011 - Social Documentary Competition - finalist
2011 - One Life International Portfolio Award – short listed
2011 - International Spider Award - finalist photojournalism and portrait series
2010 - New York Photography Festival – nominee single editorial
2010 - International Lucie Photography Awards – honourable mention three editorial essays
2010 -International Spider Awards – finalist photojournalism and portrait
2009 - International Spider Award - finalist photojournalism and portrait series
2009 - Taylor Wessing National Portrait Gallery Award – exhibition
2009 - New York Photography Festival - finalist
2008 - The Press Photographer’s Year – finalist
2008- International Spider Awards - finalist for photojournalism