To celebrate International Day of the Girl Child, Kiwi aid and development organisation Tearfund asked female humanitarian photographers from New Zealand and around the world to share empowering photos and stories that illustrate the strength and resilience of girls in the face of adversity. 

There’s something special (and slightly surreal) about meeting the girl who has only been a photo on your fridge, and with whom you’ve exchanged words and prayers only through letters. 

Ethiopia’s beauty collides with a horrific reality that millions face. Three years of failed rains have pushed the country to the edge of famine. 

Despite severe famine threatening 20 million people in southern Ethiopia, the crisis has received minimal international attention and aid, highlighting a dire need for urgent global action and awareness.

East Africa is on the brink of famine due to severe drought, but with immediate aid and sustainable farming support, the crisis can be averted.