Human Trafficking Photography Expedition to Promote Social Change

volunteer abroad photography expedition hill tribes Thailand

  • The Project

    A harsh reality in this world is that child and human trafficking are real and pertinent issues facing millions of people each day. In an effort to fight this social taboo in Thailand, the need to raise awareness is essential, in turn helping to cease the spread of human trafficking whilst providing support to those who have fallen victim to the trade as well as creating a better future for children at risk.

    Documenting the trade and those affected by it photographically, is a vital tool to allow ordinary people, far removed from Thailand and the situation at hand to get a visual taste of this unseen world. To do this, the project needs more keen and committed photographers to devote their time, skills and dedication to documenting the hill tribes of northern Thailand – helping to create real change in the lives of victims and those at risk of human trafficking.

  • Why the project needs you

    Providing child victims and those at threat from human trafficking with a network of support and hope for a positive future, is what this project achieves through photography. All of the profits from the photographs taken during the expedition are channelled into a shelter which provides support to victims of human trafficking as well as helping to raise awareness in the greater hill tribes of alternative methods of income rather than them having to resort to selling their children into the trade.

    Previous images taken while in these communities depict women and children residing in poverty, trapped and vulnerable to abuse and trafficking rings; those who are victims and disempowered – restricted from their right to freedom; and those who have found shelter, learning to trust and give themselves wholly to be part of a loving and supportive community. It is this cycle that needs to be documented, this cycle that needs to be broken at stage one, so the children and victims never have to be rescued, this cycle that needs your camera and you pair of eyes.

    Project Location

    The project visits a number of rural areas around the city of Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is considered to be Thailand's second most important city and one of its largest. Despite this, it remains a tenth of the size of Bangkok, with an estimated 400,000 people living in the greater urban area of the city. Eighty percent of the local population is 'Khon Muang' (Northern folk) and they speak a slightly different dialect to the central Thai language.

    Chiang Mai, founded in 1296, is constructed as a square with a moat to mark its boundaries and safeguard the people within with a bastion at each corner. Today these landmarks remain to form the overwhelmingly unique character of the city.

    Agriculture, mainly fruit, vegetables and some rice cultivation, is the mainstay of the local economy. In the past 10 years, tourism has become an increasingly important economic growth point for the city. Other industries include cottage industry, handicraft production, exporting, small scale business and manufacturing.

  • Project Facts

    • Duration: 10-15 days (with 2 extra nights at the beginning of the projects for your orientation in Bangkok)
    • Cost: £1435 ($2511) for 10 days, £1785 ($3124) for 15 days
    • Requirements: age 18+
    • Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
    • Project activities: Visit hill tribes, learn about the issues surrounding the community, document these communities through case studies, photography and observations, give back with a true photographic representation of their plight
    • Project Availability: Dates vary throughout the year. One expedition scheduled for 2-15th September. Another expedition is scheduled for February or March next year (dates will be decided in accordance with volunteer preference)
    • Expedition can go ahead every 2 months with a minimum of 2 volunteers (maximum of 7).

  • What is included

    •Accommodation: Room provided in Bangkok for orientation, in Chiang Mai before start of trip, and all accommodation while on expedition.
    •Food: 3 meals a day
    •Airport pick up and drop off
    •Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
    • Pre-departure information pack
    •Training: Orientation
    •Expert guidance from a world renowned photographer

  • What is not included

    •Flights
    •Insurance
    •Visas
    •Camera - please bring your own with you as you will be using this for the duration of your expedition
    • Return from Chiang Mai to Bangkok
    • Airport transfer in Bangkok at the end of the project

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