The Paul Lowe Scholarship
Paul Lowe was a passionate educator who believed in the power of visual storytelling to foster understanding, promote accountability, and provoke change. This scholarship celebrates his lasting legacy as a mentor and teacher. Through his work at The VII Foundation, the London College of Communication, and King’s College London, Paul dedicated himself to educating the next generation of visual storytellers. He shared his knowledge with generosity and purpose, guided by a deep commitment to empowering others to discover and tell stories that matter.
The Paul Lowe Scholarship continues this mission by financially supporting our education programs, which train visual journalists from underrepresented communities and underserved or conflict-affected regions. It will enable them to participate in The VII Foundation’s tuition-free educational programs and-for those who participate in our advanced programs-to cover additional costs such as travel, accommodation, and basic living expenses when needed.1 It enables them to access The VII Foundation's tuition-free educational programs and, for those enrolled in advanced courses, helps cover additional costs such as travel, accommodation, and basic living expenses when needed.
Since 2019, 1530 students from over 100 countries have participated in the VII Foundation’s educational programs. They cover critical global stories from their own countries, ranging from the civil wars in Myanmar and eastern Congo, to climate change in the Pacific, the violence in Kashmir, the war in Ukraine, and migration across Europe and the Americas. Many have gone on to work with international newsrooms, NGOs, and independent media platforms. Their award-winning stories are regularly published by well-known international media, including the BBC, CNN, Der Spiegel, El Pais, Le Monde, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
Some have received prestigious awards and fellowships, such as Leica Oscar Barnack Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and numerous World Press Photo Awards. In 2025, six alumni from the VII education community were recognized by the World Press Photo Contest, selected from more than 59,000 entries submitted by photographers across 141 countries.
1 The Paul Lowe Scholarship ensures these opportunities remain truly accessible. It allows young journalists to tell the stories of their own communities and, by strengthening local perspectives within global media, helps foster a more inclusive and informed public conversation.
2 Those who contribute to this effort help to carry forward Paul Lowe's legacy, expanding access to education, emplifying underrepresented voices, and training and supporting the next generation of visual storytellers.