High profile supporter Helena Christensen has travelled out to Colombia to document and photograph internally displaced women in both a rural and an urban environment. She says: I have just returned from a trip to Colombia with UNHCR, where I had the privilege of meeting some incredibly courageous, but very vulnerable women. As a photographer, it was an extraordinary opportunity traveling to Colombia, spending time in communities there, talking to women and documenting their lives – using photography to tell their extraordinary stories
© UNHCR/H. Perez

Helena Christensen

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About Helena

Model and photographer Helena Christensen has supported UNHCR since 2014.

As well as being one of the world’s most recognisable faces, Helena has also carved out a respected and distinguished international career in photography. Helena is using her creativity to work with UNHCR to tell refugee stories and strengthen the voices of the displaced.

In March 2017 Helena will be travelling with UNHCR to capture some of the stories of the near one million people internally displaced by conflict in eastern Ukraine, over 500, 000 of whom are vulnerable and elderly. Please check back regularly for updates - in the meantime you can follow Helena's Instagram account for her personal reflections on the trip, or visit withrefugees.org to find out what you can do to join Helena and stand #WithRefugees. 

Ahead of World Refugee Day 2015, Helena travelled with us to Colombia to document internally displaced women living in rural and urban environments, including the slums on the outskirts of Bogota. Helena said: “I wanted to use my skills to create a platform for these women’s stories which are both shocking and inspiring." Helena’s images were published in publications across the world.

Helena contributed to an important social media film that highlighted important differences between refugees and migrants, as well as the different protection they are entitled to under international law.  

In photos: Helena Christensen meets Maribeth

01 April 2016

  • Maribeth dances outside her house in Soacha, Colombia. "My spirit is free when I dance and I am in another world".
    Maribeth dances outside her house in Soacha, Colombia. "My spirit is free when I dance and I am in another world". © UNHCR/H. Christensen
  • Helena photographs Maribeth dancing outside her house.
    Helena photographs Maribeth dancing outside her house.  © UNHCR/H. Perez
  • Maribeth and her children at home.
    Maribeth and her children at home. © UNHCR/H. Christensen
  • Maribeth's eight-year-old daughter Marilyn studies in the local school. She also helps her mum cook traditional Choco food.
    Maribeth's eight-year-old daughter Marilyn studies in the local school. She also helps her mum cook traditional Choco food. © UNHCR/H. Christensen
  • "Maribeth sells incredible tasting dishes made with rice, meat and lots of spices, wrapped and steamed in banana leaves," says Helena.
    "Maribeth sells incredible tasting dishes made with rice, meat and lots of spices, wrapped and steamed in banana leaves," says Helena. © UNHCR/H. Christensen
  • Maribeth and the family look at Marilyn's homework with Helena.
    Maribeth and the family look at Marilyn's homework with Helena. © UNHCR/H. Perez
  • Maribeth dances outside her house in Soacha, Colombia. "My spirit is free when I dance and I am in another world".
  • Helena photographs Maribeth dancing outside her house.
  • Maribeth and her children at home.
  • Maribeth's eight-year-old daughter Marilyn studies in the local school. She also helps her mum cook traditional Choco food.
  • "Maribeth sells incredible tasting dishes made with rice, meat and lots of spices, wrapped and steamed in banana leaves," says Helena.
  • Maribeth and the family look at Marilyn's homework with Helena.

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