I am a freelance photojournalist based in Mashhad, Iran. I have been working on a photography project titled “Devastation of Afghanistan” since 2021, when I first visited the camp Sheydaii near Herat, Afghanistan, where thousands of families have been displaced by war and poverty.

There, I witnessed the heartbreaking reality of child trafficking and exploitation, where desperate parents sell their own children to childless couples, as brides, or even to radical Islamist groups, who indoctrinate them as fighters. Most of the affected children come from internally displaced families: forced to flee from the Taliban or because they could no longer make a living in their home regions.

I was shocked and moved by the stories of these children, who have been robbed of their childhood, dignity, and future. I felt compelled to document their plight and to give them a voice and a face. I also wanted to explore the broader context and causes of this humanitarian crisis, such as the lack of education, health care, security, and economic opportunities for the people in the camp and beyond.

My project aims to produce a series of powerful and compelling images that will raise awareness and empathy for the children and their families, and that will challenge the stereotypes and prejudices about Afghanistan and its people. I also hope that my project will generate media attention and public debate on the issue of child trafficking and exploitation in Afghanistan, and its underlying causes and solutions. I believe that photojournalism and documentary photography can be a tool for social change and human rights advocacy.

I am applying for the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant to continue this project. I want to go back to Herat and find some of the children who were sold or escaped, and to capture their stories and current situations. I also want to document how many more children are at risk of being sold under the Taliban regime. I need financial support to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, equipment, fixer/translator fees, and editing software.

I am confident that this project will contribute to the advancement of photojournalism and documentary photography as a profession and as an art form. I am also eager to learn from the mentorship and guidance of the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant team and network. I appreciate your consideration of my application.