Lahbang Preston’s happy childhood in Bamenda, Cameroon took a drastic turn in 2016 when he and his two younger siblings lost their father to the country’s escalating conflict. Having moved the family back to a rural village due to financial constraints, Preston’s mother passed away shortly after, leaving the three children facing an uncertain future. As the eldest sibling, Preston made the bold decision in 2019 to look for work in the country’s capital, Yaoundé, to support himself and his sisters – a step that would ultimately lead him to the Canon Miraisha Programme and an opportunity at a better life.
Now, at 21, life looks vastly different for Preston and his two younger sisters. Seeking opportunities to support his young, displaced family, he arrived in Yaoundé, where he discovered the humanitarian BRIGHT Programme. Through this, he was introduced to the Lens on Life Project—a turning point that changed his life.
Transforming Lives Through Meaningful Collaborations
Lens on Life is a non-profit organisation that supports photography and computer literacy training for youth worldwide. It works with partners like Canon to build spaces that help students overcome trauma, grow artistically, and gain skills to enter the global marketplace.
Lens on Life’s collaboration with Canon began with the Miraisha Programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has since expanded significantly, offering youth like Preston the chance to learn photography skills that empower them to improve their lives and those of their communities.
These skills have not only enabled Preston to support himself and his family financially. In photography, he found a new way of looking at life and a different perspective in an environment where it is easy to become disillusioned and lose hope. Today, as a professional photographer and instructor at Fambul Tok in Sierra Leone, he can also teach these skills to other young people.
Turning Skills Development into Employment Opportunities
Preston explains that his photography skills have changed his mindset, allowing him to see the beauty of life through his lens. For Preston, photography has become a means of capturing people’s stories and sharing them with the world. This commitment to bringing change to individuals and communities resonates deeply with Canon and is a key objective of its empowerment programmes like Miraisha.
Social development is deeply embedded in Canon’s culture, as reflected in its corporate philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good. The Miraisha programme is dedicated to laying the groundwork for sustainable future livelihoods throughout Africa. Preston joins over 7,000 entrepreneurs from 11 countries who have benefitted from these opportunities over the past decade. And he is ensuring that he passes this newfound knowledge and appreciation on to other young aspiring photographers.
Empowering Communities
By empowering individuals and communities through photography, filmmaking, and print education across the region, and providing programmes like Lens on Life with the imaging technology that supports their missions, Canon is making a tangible contribution to developing Africa’s future creatives. This not only supports the industry and the young people shaping its future but also provides much-needed social benefits to struggling local communities.
Somesh Adukia, Managing Director- Canon Central & North Africa shared: “At Canon, we believe in the transformative power of imaging to inspire, uplift, and create opportunities. Preston’s journey is a testament to the impact of the Miraisha Programme—turning resilience into creativity and talent into sustainable livelihoods. His story reflects our deep commitment to empowering Africa’s next generation of storytellers, equipping them not just with skills but with a vision for a brighter future. By investing in education and skills development, we are not only shaping careers but also fostering hope and driving positive change in communities across the continent.”
Preston’s journey underscores the profound impact that photography and education can have on individual lives and communities and reflects his strong spirit of resilience. In the same way, Canon’s investment in growing young talent like Preston is inspiring a new generation to rebuild their lives and reshape their communities.
Secure in the knowledge that he has succeeded in providing himself and his sisters with a future that offers hope and opportunities, Preston’s closing message reminds us of the power of perseverance and vision: “Through the lens, I see peace, hope, and a way forward. If I can rise above my struggles, so can others.”
With its Miraisha programme, which has been changing lives for over a decade, Canon is helping young people like Preston unlock their potential and realise their dreams. It is also demonstrating its unwavering commitment to supporting young talent in Africa, enabling them to unlock their full potential and achieve their dreams in the creative industry.
