A Kurdish student walks home from school March 5, 2003 in Cizre, Turkey.
© Chris Hondros/Getty Images
EDUCATION &
AWARENESS
As a photographer working in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places, Chris had the unique ability to connect his audiences to the people embroiled in far-flung and sometimes obscure conflicts. He recognized the shared humanity among those affected by war, regardless of their culture or beliefs. And he was determined to share their challenges to the broader world in the hope of provoking thought, raising awareness and fostering understanding.
One of Chris’ many skills was in humanizing complex world events that often had been reduced to abstractions that minimized their impact on the people involved. He was a witness to their struggles and his work ensured that they were not forgotten or overlooked.
To honor Chris’ work and continue his mission, the Fund has developed:
Programs to support education and awareness focused on youth in underserved communities.
Grants to newsrooms and nonprofits working to use photojournalism to tell the stories that don’t always make headlines.
And awards and fellowships to photojournalists and emerging photographers.
Afghan schoolgirls, seen through the window of a Humvee, wave to a passing American convoy in June 2010. © Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Education
Chris and many of his colleagues often spoke about opportunities they were given early in their early lives and careers as being pivotal in their path to a career in photography. These opportunities are slowly becoming a thing of the past with newsrooms struggling for funding and fewer paid internships and entry-level positions.
Todd Heisler, CHF board member, speaks to students during the
2018 Education Day at Photoville in Brooklyn, New York.
Awareness
The Fund’s work ensures that his legacy lives on by working to build a new generation of artists and advocates. We believe in the power of photography to bring attention to stories often overlooked, but also to create empathy and action to ignite change.