50 Humans by Abdulazez Dukhan
During the summer of 2020, Abdulazez Dukhan traveled to 10 different cities and towns in Belgium, meeting 50 refugees and immigrants to document their stories of success, and take a portrait of each of them. The goal was not to label them, and that is clearly expressed in the title: 50-Humans. The goal is to bring some positive stories in a time where negativity takes a lot of our attention, as well as to show their contribution, no matter where they come from or what skin color they have.
The stories focus on three different domains: work, studies, and volunteering. We are trying to redefine integration by showing that it is all about contribution. Someone in their 40s has a different expectation than someone in their 20s. That is why 50-Humans covers the stories of people of different ages and genders from 10 different nationalities. Each one of them contributes in their own way, and each and every one of their contribution counts.
About the photographer
Abdulazez Dukhan is a photographer and CS student at VUB in Brussels. A few years ago, in 2016, he started doing documentarian photography while being stuck in refugee camps in Greece. “I wanted to bring another perspective to what was happening, and that is why I created the project, “Through Refugee Eyes.” Many individuals worldwide gave me the opportunity to do so by sending me the equipment I needed – which I still use today. I am beyond grateful for that support, and I have taken up photography as a responsibility ever since. I work both individually and with organizations, wherever I feel there are unheard stories to be told or different perspectives to be shown.”