Refugee women's bravery reflected in Cork photography exhibition

Irish Examiner

11-05-2025

Faces bathed in light, their bright, resilient smiles belying the darkness they've had to battle to survive, are captured in a new photography exhibition in Cork on female refugees and their leadership.
'Women by Women,' a free exhibition is running in Nano Nagle place from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, until the end of May.
The exhibition celebrates leadership of refugee women in global emergencies and the climate crisis.
Refugee women were photographed by female photographers in Poland, Uganda, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Colombia.
Yasmina, who survived detention by the Syrian regime and was released from prison in 2014 is one woman featured. Now living in Turkey, she is a human rights defender, journalist, researcher, and the CEO of Freedom Jasmine, an organisation which provides life-saving services to Syrian refugees, including psychosocial support and skills training.
Yasmina's picture was taken by award-winning Turkish photographer F Dilek Yurdakul, who said seeing strong women and telling their stories to the whole world was important for her. 'What they are doing is really special, especially when you realise what they have lived through, what their experience is and they're still strong, and this determination to make a difference for women is so important.'
Yosmary and her two daughters arrived in Colombia eight months ago. They travelled on foot and by donkey from their home country of Venezuela so that Yosmary could get a better job. She now earns an income as a cleaner and sells candy on the street to make extra money. Picture: Laura Rios Diaz
Amsal was in the middle of her university studies in 2021, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and she was forced to flee to Poland. After two months of living in a refugee camp, she was told to move to make room for those displaced by the war in Ukraine.
Now, she lives in temporary accommodation with her brother, who also fled Afghanistan, and the pair are trying to continue their studies.
In Poland, photographer Magda Klimczak captured pictures of Amsal and other women refugees. She said: 'Each of our heroines was unique, each had different motivations and transitions, but for each one, this session was something special.
Being a woman in front of a woman's lens, feeling heard, and important, gave them back their dignity.
Many of the women featured in the exhibition faced discrimination in their host country after suffering from violence and trauma that led them to flee their homes in the first place. But using their skills, they are making incredible contributions and creating change for themselves and their communities.
The exhibition highlights the urgent need for more funding for women-led organisations, which currently receive just 1% of gender equality funding. And by showcasing the diverse range of refugee experiences it hopes to contribute to changing societal attitudes towards people seeking sanctuary. Women and girls make up more than 50% of the 35.3m refugees worldwide, but historically, they are overlooked when it comes to humanitarian funding.
Women face specific challenges and increased vulnerability as refugees or internally displaced persons, with 1 in 5 experiencing sexual violence.
Joyce, her mother, and her siblings were forced to flee South Sudan due to ongoing conflict in the country and are now living in the Imvepi settlement. Picture: Esther Mbabzi
The female-led photography exhibition is organised by ActionAid Ireland and supported by Irish Aid.
Karol Balfe, ActionAid Ireland CEO Karol Balfe, said: 'With the 'Women by Women' exhibition we want to shift the lens to ensure that women who are excluded and live in poverty claim their rights and live safe lives.
Portrayal of refugees, particularly in the media, should be with impartiality, dignity, and humanity. We must create more space for refugee women to tell their own unique stories and celebrate their special contributions to their host communities.
'By celebrating these women, we shine a light on the incredible women-led organisations that are an invaluable lifeline to women refugees in the hope that their chronic underfunding is addressed so they can continue to uplift and empower women refugees.'
Nano Nagle Place CEO John Smith, said: 'Nano Nagle Place is proud to host 'Women by Women', a powerful exhibition by ActionAid, in our Global Hub. This inspiring exhibition shines a light on the lives and contributions of displaced women around the world.
"At Nano Nagle Place, we are committed to highlighting contemporary global justice issues. Our award-winning museum invites visitors to reflect on the past through the story of Nano Nagle, while the Global Hub brings their attention to the present—encouraging reflection on today's challenges and inspiring action to make a difference.'
Read More
Women and children among 13 killed in overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza