Impact Story: Community Keepers

A Conversation with Amy Potgieter 

Our Humanitarian Photography Workshop is built around a simple exchange: photographers get real-world experience documenting social impact work; NGOs get a library of strong images they can use to tell their story. It runs out of Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, led by humanitarian photographer Anna Lusty, and each intake works with a selected group of small nonprofits doing important work on a grassroots level.

Community Keepers is one of those organisations. Since 2008, they’ve focused on early intervention and long-term support for children at risk throughout South Africa. Their work includes mentoring, access to education, and practical assistance for families navigating difficult circumstances. In the following Q&A, Amy Potgieter from Community Keepers shares more about their approach, the challenges they face, and what meaningful support looks like in practice.

How did Community Keepers get started?

Community Keepers started when our founding members discovered that in the South African education system, there was one state social worker allocated to 32 000 learners. We were born in 2009 to address this gap by placing social workers at full-time, on-site offices at schools in underprivileged communities.

What are your overall goals?

Our vision is to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of learners and promote supportive school communities where learning and development can prosper. Wellbeing can be defined as a person’s ability to realise their potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and contribute to their community. Community Keepers’ mission is to make this a reality for both their team and the communities they serve.

What was your experience working with our photographers last year?

Working with Anna and her team was a lovely experience. Anna created space for the photographers to understand who we are and what we do before the shoot day. On the day, it was a privilege to be observers of each photographer’s creative process. Anna was extremely professional in the way she facilitated the whole process.

Are the images you were given helpful?

Very helpful! As the person who manages communication, the photos have been a valuable addition to our stories which we share on social media as well as with existing and potential funders. As an NGO that works with children, it is often difficult to capture photos that comply with child protection policies. As specialised photographers, Anna and her team were able to capture what we do in a sophisticated and respectful manner.

What do you think the role of photography is for NPOs?

Being able to share high quality photos across our communication adds a level of professionalism to our services. Photos have the ability to anchor the stories we share, making them more tangible for the audience. The more we can take our audience along on the journey, the more invested they are.

To find out more about Community Keepers and their work, visit their website

Humanitarian photography in action 

If you’re interested in documenting the work of Community Keepers and other social impact or environmental organizations, we’d love to see your application! To join our humanitarian photography workshop, you don’t need heaps of experience, but you do need an intermediate level as a photographer and a good grasp of your camera’s functions. You don’t need to be a pro, and no prior nonprofit photography is necessary. That part will be covered during the workshop. 

The workshop is led by Anna Lusty, a UK-born photographer who has lived and worked in South Africa for close to twenty years. Humanitarian photography is at the core of what she does. She has documented the work of charitable organisations across the continent, and her images have appeared in donor reports, fundraising campaigns, and awareness materials for numerous NGOs. During the workshop, Anna works closely with each participant, covering everything from shoot preparation and ethical storytelling to post-production and how to brief yourself on an organisation’s needs before you pick up your camera. The aim is not just to come away with strong images, but with a clearer sense of responsibility as a storyteller.

Quick facts on the program

• Location: Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa
• Duration: 14 days
• Group size: Maximum 8 participants
• Workshop leader: Anna Lusty, professional humanitarian photographer
• Included: Accommodation, daily breakfast, transport, airport transfers, photographic tutoring, and NGO placements
• Not included: Flights and travel insurance
• Experience required: Intermediate
• Application: By application and portfolio review

Read the full details of our next humanitarian photography workshop