Welcome to Project Image Ethiopia’s Home
In the summer of 2006 I left my home in Virginia to travel to Africa. First stop, Egypt; Land of the Ancient Pyramids and the famous Nile River. After spending a few weeks traveling around the country I stepped on a plane with my good friend and left Cairo flying south following the entire length of the Nile River and in to the country of Ethiopia. With only the words from books and conversations with Ethiopian friends back home I entered a land that is notoriously known for its famine and poverty. From the thriving nightlife in Addis, to the ancient religious landmarks in the north, to the colorful wildlife and tribes in the south, the Ethiopia I found was far different from what the average westerner imagines it to be.
As a photographer I was in a kind of “wonderland”. I wanted to capture everything and probably saw more of the country through the lens of my camera than I did with my naked eyes. Of all the many things I did see and experience while in Ethiopia, there was one thing that stood out the most; the people. Ethiopians are a diverse people, each region having different dialects and even languages, though one thing remains the same; they are all friendly and most of all they are proud of who they are.
As a photographer, I felt it was my job to capture this unique culture with honesty and care. I came home with many stories and thousands of photographs to show my family and friends. After weeks of constantly talking about my trip I felt that I needed to do something more. In the fall of 2006 I began giving multimedia presentations for local community associations, universities and community centers. Since then, my mission to educate Americans has progressed rapidly and continues daily.
Stemming from the overwhelming encouragement and support from Americans and Ethiopians alike, along with my passion to broaden the minds of westerners, Project Image Ethiopia was born. The project not only serves as a tool for cultural awareness and education, but it is also a celebration of a beautiful country that has been misrepresented for years. It is my great pleasure to introduce Project Image Ethiopia’s website. Navigating through its pages will help you learn more about Project Image Ethiopia’s future plans and its progression. Thank you for taking the time to visit Project Image Ethiopia.org!
Emily Taylor
Photographer/Founder
Project Image Ethiopia
