By Nixon Dickenson
In this week’s article, Voices from the Streets, I had the pleasure of speaking with Renau Destine a freelancer and professional photographer.
Renau developed his skill over years and is often seen at various social functions capturing those poignant moments. His passion for photography developed as he is the main ‘breadwinner’ for his family thus he decided to develop his skill turning a hobby into a remarkable business.
When he is not behind the lens of his camera, he is just an ordinary, humble young man who understand and values the power of knowledge. He shared that there was a time when it was difficult for him to gain employment and be paid what he knew he was valued. He made the decision to educate himself in photography as he saw it was a viable market in the country. He shared that there are many young people who are still not able to land the type of job that they want but they should use the opportunity to keep on learning and growing and using their skills to grow their brand.
He said that he works hard to provide for his family because they were always ready to step up and support his dreams when it mattered the most. He shared that what many young people also need a part from knowledge is the support of family. Renau said that genuine love and support makes a big difference as it is easy for people to want to give up when challenges derail their plans.
Renau shared that his work as a photographer has helped him to pay it forward by educating other young people who are also passionate about photography. He has partnered with the TCI Sports Commission to create Project Idea a mentorship program for youths who want to learn about photography and hone their skills in a safe non-discriminatory environment.
He shared that he is excited about Project Idea because it has helped to identify the talents in many of our youths from the various schools on the island of Providenciales. Renau spoke about racial discrimination and the role that it plays in crime in our country. He believes that young people should be taught to value diversity and inclusion as each of them have an important role to play in nation building.
He shared that being a photographer has helped him to capture memorable experiences for various people regardless of their skin color or ethnicity. When young people are left out and experience discrimination, this often opens the doors for gangs to be formed as everyone seeks to identify with something even if it is not positive. His knowledge of racial discrimination was gleaned from his own experiences and childhood.
He shared that as a child he experienced bullying and it shaped his perspective on life. However, he also experienced kindness which overpowered the negative experiences that he had encountered. He shared that he could have become bitter and resentful instead he chose to focus on the generosity that he received from friends and the love and support of his family and even when he did not get the jobs he desired, he chose to rely on the skill that God had blessed him with.
Hence, he left this very important message for our youths today. Do not allow your background to dictate your future. If you want something go after it by first educating yourself about what you will need to be successful and always exercise patience. Renau shared that he believes the challenges he faced in life were a part of God’s design for his life so that he could discover the gift of photography that lied within him.
He closed by stating that if you feed yourself with knowledge your journey through this world will get better with time. Although he is happy with his career as a photographer, he is not stopping there. Renau’s story is truly inspiring! His journey from facing employment challenges to becoming a successful photographer and mentor highlights the power of perseverance, education, and family support. It’s wonderful to see how he’s using his skills to give back to the community through Project Idea, helping young people develop their talents in a supportive environment.
Renau’s emphasis on the importance of diversity, inclusion, and the impact of racial discrimination is also very poignant. His experiences with both bullying and kindness have clearly shaped his positive outlook and commitment to helping others. We can all learn from his message about not letting your background dictate your future and the importance of continuous learning and patience. Well done Renau, knowledge is indeed powerful!
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