Gold / 2024 / Fine Art / Collage

• Prize
  Gold in Fine Art/Collage
• Photographer
  Matilde Simas, United States
• Studio
  Matilde Simas
• Website
  http://www.matildesimas.com
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/mattie_simas/?hl=en

This collection is a part of the Awareness Against Human Trafficking (HAART) Kenya initiative. It showcases five powerful portraits of individuals who have survived human trafficking in East Africa. These portraits, composed of various images, symbolize their journey of reclaiming their self-esteem and identity following their traumatic experiences. Each woman was ensnared by online scams that promised them employment opportunities in Lebanon, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern nations, only to be deceived.

Matilde Simas, a first-generation Azorean-American visual storyteller, dedicates her artistic endeavors to social narratives and personal stories. Matilde engages in collaborative projects that empower individuals to co-create their narratives and shape their representation. Her accolades and collaborations with NGOs around the globe underscore her commitment to using visual art as a powerful tool for social activism. Notably, her evocative images find a place in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report and Kenyan Directory of Service Providers for Trafficking Persons.