Filipina domestic worker-photog in HK wins scholarship to NYU

SAN FRANCISCO –Filipina domestic worker in Hong Kong and talented documentary photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani, has been awarded the prestigious Magnum Foundation Human Rights scholarship to New York University,” the foundation announced January 21.

“All dreams are valid!! Im going to see New York and finally (get) a formal education!” Bacani posted on Facebook. “I’m literally crying when I received the news.”

Bacani recently drew international media attention with her eye-catching and artistic photographs of the daily life of ordinary people in Hong Kong. She shoots on her free time from domestic work duties.

The Magnum Fellowship provides a scholarship and the coursework developed in collaboration with NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts, according to the foundation’s website.

The foundation will also mentor and support the fellows through editorial advice, introductions to photo editors, and in some cases, help to facilitate independent freelance work with prominent, international media networks,

The 2015 Human Rights Fellows are:

Xyza Cruz Bacani, 27, Philippines; Basel Alyazouri, 19, Palestine; Nour Kelze, 27, Syria; Sipho Mpongo, 21, South Africa; Chery Dieu Nalio, 33, Haiti; Anastasia Vlasova, 22, Ukraine; Muyi Xiao, 23, China.

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