If I had a dollar for every time I've seen poor people portrayed on TV or in photos as dependent, passive, or otherwise powerless, I'd probably have enough money to singlehandedly end poverty. 

I'm kidding, of course. But have you seen the kinds of images I'm talking about? They're everywhere. 

Kids dressed in rags. Crippled beggars squatting in dirt. Outstretched hands grasping at donated food. All reflect some aspect of global poverty—but none of these images tell the whole story. 

The fact of the matter is that all 896 million people in extreme poverty are not taking their situation lying down. They're out there, day after day, trying to make the most of the limited resources they've been dealt and provide for themselves and their families. 

That's a side of poverty I wish we'd see more of. And it's exactly the kind of image a brilliant annual photo contest is designed to showcase.  

The contest, now in its tenth year, is sponsored by the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), a Washington, D.C.-based thinktank working to advance financial inclusion for the world's poor.

Financial inclusion entails helping people access basic financial services like bank accounts and digital payment tools, without which it's almost impossible to get ahead in the modern economy. Each year, CGAP asks photographers from around the world to submit compelling images of people in poverty who are working hard to improve their situations—exactly the sort of people who stand to benefit from financial inclusion.  

This year, judges selected 27 winners or honorable mentions from 3,300 entries representing 77 different countries. Though the photos reflect diverse origins stylistically as well as geographically, a clear unifying thread is their shared focus on people at work, from farms to factories and everywhere in between. Looking at these photos, I can't help but feel inspired by the resourcefulness and determination on display. I sometimes think my job's tough, but these are some seriously hard-working folks. 

Without further ado, here are 15 of my favorite shots from the 2015 CGAP photo contest: 

From working moms...

... to businessmen.

In black and white...

... and vivid color.

From intimate portraits...

... to sweeping landscapes.

On farms...

... boats ...

... and city streets. Incredible images, all.

This photo reaped the Grand Prize for its stunning composition.


All photos courtesy of CGAP. Click here to see all 27 photos and learn more about the contest. Then, click TAKE ACTION NOW to show your support for the Global Goals, which financial inclusion will play a big part in achieving

Editorial

Defeat Poverty

15 of the hardest-working humans you'll ever meet, in photos

By Hans Glick