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 is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker. She also serves as the Creative Art Director for the Limb Kind Foundation, where she combines her artistic vision and storytelling expertise to raise global awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with limb loss. With a background in psychology and women’s studies from Suffolk University and advanced training in digital photography at the Rhode Island School of Design, Matilde brings a unique perspective to her work, guided by a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes documenting dignity within vulnerable communities.