WaterAid India launches its annual Photography Fellowship 

About the fellowship

‘The WASH Photo Project’ is the first ever fellowship in India focusing on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). A fully funded fellowship, it encourages amateur photographers from educational institutions to participate and document strong, innovative and diverse visual narratives.

With a cross-national coverage, the fellowship aims to explore visual stories on water across India.

The journey of a photo fellow

Theme of the fellowship

Today, India is in the midst of a major water crisis. According to Niti Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index 2018, 75% of households do not have drinking water on premise, while the quality is also terrible. 70% of our water is contaminated and so we currently rank 120 out of 122 countries in the water quality index.

India's urban water situation

Read more about our work in urban communities
Water problems in Urban India

‘The WASH Photo Project 2019’ aims to highlight the various problems faced by urban communities when it comes to accessing clean water. The fellowship further aims to explore the physical, economic and social repercussions due to lack of clean water in metros and small towns.

Meet the mentors

Anita Khemka

Anita Khemka

Anita is a social documentary photographer represented by Photoink. Widely exhibited in India, her work has traveled to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Frankfurt, Paris, Geneva, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Houston & Melbourne. She previously headed the photography department at Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts & Communication.

Ashima

Ashima Narain

Ashima is a photographer and filmmaker, represented by National Geographic Image Collection and the former photo editor for National Geographic Traveller India. She has worked on a diverse range of subjects from documenting flamingos for Discovery Channel to driving vintage cars for Cartier.

Danish

Danish Siddiqui

Danish is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist & heads international news agency Reuters Pictures team in India. Before his foray into photojournalism, Danish was a television correspondent with one of India’s leading news networks. He has covered several important stories in South Asia, Middle East and Europe.

Meet the fellows

Photo Fellowship 2019

Who can apply

Media and communication students and amateur photographers from graduation and post-graduation courses and/or within the age group of 18-28 years are eligible to apply.

A good portfolio especially in the social sector will be an added advantage.

Deliverables by fellows

Shortlisted fellows to submit the following at the end of the fellowship: 

  • A docket of at least 50 shortlisted photographs from field visits.

  • Visual narratives to be supported by captions for each photograph.

  • A minimum of five stark photo stories (featuring 5-7 photos and long captions).

Deliverables by WaterAid India

  • Sessions on the theme of urban water by an expert panel.

  • A certificate of participation at the end of fellowship.

  • An opportunity to exhibit through a photography exhibition.

What's more?

Here is all you need to know to apply

The fellowship period will be from July 2019 to March 2020.

The expenses for travel, food and accommodation will be covered by WaterAid India. It is mandatory to produce and submit original bills, tickets and boarding passes for all expenditure incurred during the course of the fellowship.

To apply, please submit the following:

  • A statement of purpose (not more than 200 words).

  • Resume, not more than two pages.

  • At least five samples of recent photography assignments undertaken. This should include the details of the photo project, along with detailed captions.

  • Six fellows will be selected for the fully-funded fellowship.

  • Fellows will be shortlisted by the Mentor Panel and WaterAid India. 

  • Shortlisted fellows will be informed through an email and their names will also be announced on our website.

  • WaterAid India reserves the right to disqualify an application if it does not meet basic minimum requirements. 

  • All decisions taken by WaterAid India will be final.