World's Youngest Courageous Journalist Award
Palestinian Fatima Shbeir wins two international awards, German and French, within two months
Shabbir is advancing ranks in conflict areas.
Getty
Shubeir reached all areas of the Gaza Strip to monitor the suffering of the population.
Emirates today
A picture taken by Fatima Shbeir of a mother bidding her farewell to her martyred child.
Emirates today
picture
At the beginning of 2013, the Palestinian photojournalist, Fatima Shbeir, from the Gaza Strip, made her way to learn photojournalism independently, and during the following years she underwent adventures full of dangers, as a result of her presence in the areas of conflict and the continuous Israeli attacks.
Fatima, 24, was subjected to a lot of criticism from her community surroundings, and she faced sarcasm and ridicule as a girl working in a society governed by customs and traditions, but she continued her journalistic career, trying to overcome all challenges and difficulties, most notably the lack of the necessary capabilities.
Today, after a journey of perseverance and challenge, Shabbir became the youngest brave journalist in the world, after winning the German “Anja Niedringhaus” award in photojournalism from the International Foundation for Women’s Media, in early October, which is given to female photographers who advance in the first ranks, and endanger themselves, from In order to get the photo news.
At the end of last August, Shbeir won the French "Remy Ochlik" award, which is announced each year, to honor young photographers around the world, where she won the award in terms of the best annual report on conflict.
In the heart of Europe
Photographer Shubeir explains to "Emirates Today" the details of her superiority over world journalists to the "Courage Anja Niedringhaus" award in Europe, which was nominated for winning by the photo editors of the Getty Images Agency, which publishes the photos taken by Fatima.
Young Fatima says: "The photos that were nominated for the award and won are a graphic story that includes 13 photos, entitled: 11 Days of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, all of which document the chapters of killing and destruction caused by the recent Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, last May, Which resulted in the death of more than 200 Palestinians, including dozens of children and women.”
It turned out that the pictures that won the Courage Award were of children lighting candles to light the darkness of one of the nights of the war in light of the power outage crisis, and other buildings affected by bombing and destruction, and homeless families on the side of the road and inside tents, after they lost their only shelter, along with pictures of a girl bidding farewell. Her father is a martyr.
As for the photos that won the French "Remy Ochlik" award, they were a report that includes 37 photos, all documenting the events of the recent Israeli war against the Gaza Strip.
The young photojournalist says: "The photo report was also nominated for the French Remy Ochlik Award by the photo editors at the Getty Images Agency, and it included all scenes of destruction and displacement, and these photos were distinguished by the fact that they monitored all the details of the people's tragedies, as a result of the massacres of killing and bombing, which they committed. occupation against defenseless civilians.”
positive motivation
Young Fatima believes that winning the two European awards and her superiority over the world's female journalists is a success for the voice of the Palestinian woman who struggles and perseveres in order to prove her worth, and to deliver the message of her creativity to every nob and voice.
She says: "Being honored with European awards is a positive motivation for every Palestinian woman to achieve her ambition, defying the negative view of criticism from the societal environment. In the Gaza Strip, only five women work in the field of photojournalism, and women possess limitless capabilities that qualify them to excel over many others. From the women of Europe and the whole world.”
She adds: "The (Anja Niedringhaus) award is given to the most courageous journalist in the world working in conflict areas, and thanks to my perseverance, I was the youngest journalist to receive it since its launch in 2015."
support her mother
Young Fatima took her first steps in photojournalism, when she was a high school student, where she sought to learn photography independently, and her mother's support was the basis from the beginning of her journey to infinity.
She says: "I learned photography by myself, by researching and reading on the Internet, and I faced many challenges at the beginning, most notably the society's view and its negative criticism, which tried to detract from my effort and my work, in addition to the lack of the necessary capabilities to work, as I was walking on foot. It travels long distances to reach remote and border areas, closely documenting the lives and suffering of the population.”
Shabeer continued, saying: “One of the difficulties that I faced in the way of my work was the lack of my own camera, but in 2017, my mother, who always encouraged me, gave me the first camera, and I was very happy in an indescribable way. I picked it up for the refugee residents of Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza, to reflect their suffering, and spread it to the world through social media.”
In the same year, the fruits of the mother's support for her daughter ripened. Fatima participated in the "Moments" competition, launched by National Geographic Abu Dhabi magazine, where she won first place in the documentary photo category.
The young journalist says: "The National Geographic Abu Dhabi award is a glorification of the traditional heritage (the henna night), which I documented with my camera, to shed light on the most important traditional customs and traditions at weddings, which are still present in Palestinian society despite the succession of generations, and the award is also a tribute to the support of My mother's constant and constant encouragement to me."
Young Fatima launched her work in the field of photojournalism in 2019, after many years of self-learning and perseverance, as she began working as a contributor with the Getty Images Agency. and other international media.
• Fatima, who is 24 years old, was subjected to a lot of criticism from her social environment, and she faced sarcasm and ridicule as a girl working in a society governed by customs and traditions. However, she continued her journalistic career, trying to overcome all challenges and difficulties, most notably the lack of the necessary capabilities.
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