Addis Ababa-based photographer Maheder Haileselassie clicked this image on the banks of Lake Tana – Ethiopia’s largest lake, which holds 50 per cent of the country’s fresh water. It shows monks from the Tana Qirkos Monastery along with youth from different Ethiopian cities working together to remove water hyacinth. The invasive weed poses a serious threat to the existence of the lake and its diverse species of fish.
Originally a self-taught photographer, Maheder has participated in numerous training workshops and photography exhibitions across Europe and Ethiopia. She recently founded the Center for Photography in Ethiopia (CPE) – a learning and discussion platform for Ethiopian photographers – and is also founder of @everydayethiopia on Instagram.
