Phiona Kayinza's Story
2026-04-30
Phiona just graduated in March 2026 from our Cameras For Girls program, and found a great job in communications, using her photography and ethical storytelling skills.
4Planet
Impact data
Cameras For Girls reports these figures and publishes them on Nexus Impacts. We mirror the record here with its source, its date, and the photographs attached to each claim, current as of August 2026. The numbers are the charity’s own. we check where they come from, not how they were counted.
In-Person Training Hours
We have a 4-day workshop in each country before the year-long program kicks off. This is so the girls learn how to operate their cameras, and they learn photography (exposure triangle, composition), ethical storytelling, and we also discuss mental health and sexual harassment.
2026-04-30
Phiona just graduated in March 2026 from our Cameras For Girls program, and found a great job in communications, using her photography and ethical storytelling skills.
10 claims · 7 sites
3 claims · 2 sites
1 claim · 1 site
claim · 1 site
Women across Africa are trained in media, but not prepared for work. Without access to equipment, practical experience, and networks, they are locked out of paid opportunities in a male-dominated industry.
Graduates from Cameras For Girls program are working
Cameras For Girls trains and equips African women with photography, ethical storytelling, mentorship, and business skills so they can produce professional work and access paid opportunities in media. By combining practical training with equipment ownership and continued support, women build income pathways, strengthen their confidence, and gain greater agency to tell their own stories and represent their communities with dignity.
1 claim · 1 site
1 claim · 1 site
1 claim · 1 site
56% of the claims we hold carry at least one photograph (10 of 18).
Young African women graduate with university degrees in journalism and communications but struggle to access paid work. Training is often theoretical, and without equipment, practical experience, or networks, they are excluded from opportunities in male dominated media spaces. At the same time, they lack access to income-generating skills and control over their narratives.
Cameras For Girls provides women with the tools and support they need to enter the field. This includes a camera to keep, practical training in photography and ethical storytelling, business skills, and mentorship within a structured, supportive environment.
Participants apply their skills through real assignments, producing work that reflects both technical ability and storytelling. They build portfolios that can be used to approach clients, employers, and partners, moving beyond theory into real output.
After a 6-month mentorship period, armed with skills, equipment, and a portfolio, participants begin to access paid opportunities. This may include freelance work, roles with NGOs or media organizations, or contracts in communications and storytelling.
As women continue working, they build income, expand their networks, and strengthen their professional identity. They move into more consistent and higher value opportunities within the media sector.
With continued access to work, women are able to tell their own stories and represent their communities from their own perspectives. This contributes to more balanced and accurate storytelling in media. Over time, women build more stable careers, increase their financial independence, and take on leadership roles, including mentoring others and contributing to a more inclusive media landscape.
We equip participants with the cameras and tools required to practice and work. By removing the financial barrier to entry, they are able to continue developing their skills and pursue opportunities beyond the program.
Mentorship functions as the program’s conversion mechanism, transforming technical training into verified employment outcomes. By combining individualized guidance with market access, we ensure participants move from capability to income generation with clear, trackable results.
By focusing on practical, high-quality training, participants develop the ability to produce work that meets real client expectations. This is the foundation for everything that follows—portfolio strength, job access, and ultimately, the ability to generate consistent income.