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Baririeta Naare photographs the pandanus tree as part of the National Geographic Photo Camp in Kiribati.
Through our lens: I-Kiribati youth tell their story of
resilience through photography
The air is buzzing with chatter and excitement under the maneaba as I-Kiribati photography students showcase their recent work to the communities of Marakei Island. Baririeta Naare and cohort have completed a five-day National Geographic Photo Camp on the small island in Kiribati, utilizing photography and storytelling to illustrate the impacts of climate change on their remote Pacific nation.
The camp posed a unique opportunity for young people to learn techniques like lighting, composition and portraiture from world class photographers while exploring the inextricable link between Kiribati culture, lifestyle and the environment.
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Baririeta taking photos of community members on Marakei Island.
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A woman sits under a thatch roof with her grandchild, taken by photo camp student, Baririeta Naare.
During the camp, students participated in field visits, open-air lessons and writing assignments in teams. The writing component helps young people further examine their experiences and share their stories.
Self-selected topics evolved around the traditional way of life on Marakei Island: fishing, te rau (thatch) making from pandanus leaves, te kora (string made from coconut husks) and the harvesting of bwaibwai (a traditional root crop in the taro family).
Most people on the island live a subsistence lifestyle meaning the island’s natural materials are interwoven in all you see.
The pandanus fruit tree is one example, whereby the fruit is eaten, the wood is used for building homes, and the leaves are used for making thatch roofs. Pandanus is woven to the stems of coconut leaves. And te kora is traditionally used to tie the thatch to the beams.
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Coconuts dry in the sun at a village on the lagoon side of Marakei Island. The thatched roofs are made from pandanus leaves.
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Te kora (string) is hand made from coconut husks.
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A local fisherman shows off his catch on the main street of Rawannawi village.
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Weaving mats from pandanus leaves is a skill passed on through generations and a source of income on the island.
“I never imagined I would be this excited about photography,” Baririeta shares as we trek the long path from the village to the lagoon to photograph pandanus. Before the camp, Baririeta had only taken photos using his phone. Now he wants to get a camera to bring more stories about Kiribati closer to the rest of the world.
For Baririeta, who grew up on Marakei, the island is so beloved he never books a vacation elsewhere when he has time off from working in the capital of Tarawa.
“I remember swimming in the lagoon as a child, under the pandanus trees and fishing with my father. I think Marakei is a special place – but maybe I am biased,” he says smiling.
It’s fair to say the week on the island has inspired everyone. Baririeta’s team member, Tiein Taebo, remarked that participating in the camp was a dream come true. And the week’s overarching theme – of cultural and environmental preservation – is something they all are passionate about.
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On Marakei and elsewhere in Kiribati, most homes and villages are near the coastline.
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An aerial view of Kiribati shows the characteristic narrowness of the islands, and the communities residing near the coast.
On Marakei and elsewhere in Kiribati, most homes and villages are near the coastline. For centuries people have lived in harmony with the sea. But now things are changing.
Kiribati is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Situated in the central Pacific the 33 atolls have a maximum height of 3 to 4m making sea level rise a significant threat. Global warming affects coral growth, ocean temperatures and the likelihood of heat-related illness.
Reliance on subsistence agriculture and its geographic location mean the impacts of climate change carry a heavy weight here. Environmental degradation endangers the very fabric of life in Kiribati.
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Tiein and Baririeta discuss the resilience of the pandanus and how it is used to prevent soil erosion.
When reflecting on their project, Ta Rau of Resilience, Baririeta’s team shared how the pandanus is resilient, even growing in brackish water and helping to stabilize the soil.
The team likened this to the resilience of Kiribati, sharing how the richness of their culture is the roots of their resilience.
“Climate change is unpredictable, but one thing is certain. We must continue practising and sustaining our traditional knowledge using our local resources passed on from one generation to another like weaving te rau. By planting local trees, like the pandanus tree, that produce these useful materials to make te rau, we can become resilient to climate change,” the team shared in their final presentation.
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Student Tiein’s photo showing a woman preparing the pandanus leaves for weaving on the coconut stem to make te rau (thatch).
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Student Teitua’s photo showing a stack of freshly woven te rau (thatch).
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Student Mwatiten’s photo showing a traditional building with te rau (thatch) roof.
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Student Baririeta’s photo showing a young child balancing near a stack of te rau (thatch) made from pandanus.
Reflecting on the camp – the first of its kind in the country – WHO Country Liaison Officer, Ms Monica Driu Fong shared, “In Kiribati, the impacts of climate change are already felt through rising seas, water scarcity, and threats to health and livelihoods. That is why WHO believes in amplifying the voices of Kiribati youth. Through storytelling, young people can show the world what resilience looks like – and why urgent action for health and climate can’t wait.”
The photography camp was made possible by the Te Mamauri Project, a climate resilience project working to ensure Kiribati health system and communities have the knowledge to protect and improve population health in a changing climate. The project is implemented by the WHO Kiribati Country Liaison Office and Kiribati’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services and is generously funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Learn more about how WHO is working with partners to support Pacific governments’ efforts to strengthen climate resiliency.