Eberhard Riedel is a photographer, clinical social worker and teacher living in Seattle, Washington. He graduated in documentary and fine arts photography from the Photographic Center Northwest, earned a Masters of Social Work from the University of Washington, a Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, and a Ph.D. in science from the Technische Universität in Munich, Germany. Riedel founded Cameras without Borders, a project that offers photographic workshops to youths and works with communities in difficult environments in Africa.

In August 2004, Riedel photographed in a remote village in South Africa and in no time found himself surrounded by curious children wanting to know about his camera and offering to carry his equipment. This experience and a joint venture with his friend and colleague Craig Richards to Uganda in the spring of 2007, were the start of Cameras without Borders. As a psychotherapist Riedel has clinical experience employing play and art therapy in treating children who have suffered trauma. Aha! He thought, here is the perfect tool to engage children and their communities and bridge cultural divides. When he puts cameras into the hands of children they begin telling stories - visual narratives. Narration and storytelling are key elements in the process of healing as they generate curiosity and imagination.

Over the past three years more than 200 children in 23 communities in Namibia, South Africa, The Gambia, and Uganda have worked intensively in Riedel's Cameras without Borders workshops. In addition, Riedel reaches out to the communities and is honored by their participation and appreciates the help of local people as guides, translators, assistant instructors or drivers. Believing that the best path to peace is through mutual curiosity and learning, he engages people at home and abroad through presentations, writing and photographic exhibitions. Photography provides the context within which conversations begin and community builds.

The programs supported by Cameras without Borders are free to participants. All proceeds from the sale of photographs and all donations or contributions to Cameras without Borders are used to fund further work with African youths and communities. Currently, the Cameras without Borders project is sponsored by the HopeFirst Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Cameras without Borders plans new photographic workshops in Uganda for the fall of 2010. Moreover, we are planning for return visits to and photographic workshops in Southern Africa and West Africa in 2011. For inquiries please use the contact information below.