By Kim Phoebe
In the 2024 nearly 2,000 photographers around the world documented the streets with the @24hourproject—all with the common goal: to document humanity and raise awareness of @responsiblecharity’s Women’s Empowerment Program.
Responsible Charity supports women in Indian slums in leading independent, self-determined lives. Beyond schooling, women here learn how to manage their everyday lives with their families without a man by their side.
Therefore, it was important for me to talk to women in my street portraits about what “independence” means to them personally. What makes them feel independent. Armed with 24 blank pieces of cardboard, I set out—I hadn’t expected to encounter 24 different opinions. 24 opinions that I all share, 24 well-considered opinions.
Some knew immediately what they wanted to write on their cardboard, others had so many ideas that they couldn’t decide at first. Some conversations lasted up to 45 minutes, others were very short.
I cried with Lena (out of joy, emotion, and a sense of honor), and I laughed with Katja and her friend Heike.
There were many hugs, many incredibly beautiful impressions. Lisa’s strength, Jules’s openness, Fery’s joy at being photographed, and Marleen, who offered me fresh fruit.
Annegret had already noticed that there were a lot of street photographers out and about these days, and I felt Melanie’s opinion particularly important.
Such wonderful encounters that gave me so much strength, so many encounters that I wouldn’t want to miss, that showed me how wonderful it is to approach strangers and ask for their opinions, to take the time.
Each of these women is so incredibly strong, beautiful, intelligent, charming, independent. And I’m so happy that they all became part of the 24HourProject. Thank you!
Kim Phoebe | Instagram
