Make-A-Will Month: Supporting New Voices in Journalism with The VII Foundation
While traveling to a safer place, Yazidi refugees mourn family members lost in the fight with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, ISIS, while they were trapped on Mount Sinjar in Faysh Khabur, Zakho, Iraq on Aug. 9, 2014. © Ali Arkady / VII.
This August, The VII Foundation is highlighting Make-A-Will Month as an opportunity for individuals to create lasting support for press freedom and documentary journalism. The initiative emphasizes how legacy gifts can help sustain the work of independent photojournalists who risk their lives to report the truth.
A Story of Courage: Ali Arkady
One example of this mission is the journey of Ali Arkady, a former participant in the VII Mentor Program and now a contributing photographer with The VII Foundation. In 2017, Arkady documented evidence of war crimes committed by an elite Iraqi military unit. Despite significant threats and pressure to remain silent, he persisted in exposing the truth.
With support from The VII Foundation, Arkady’s work was published, and when the risks to his life grew, the foundation helped relocate him and his family out of Iraq. Today, he is not only an award-winning journalist but also an educator, continuing to train new generations in the power and responsibility of visual storytelling.
Legacy Through FreeWill
In recognition of Make-A-Will Month, The VII Foundation has partnered with FreeWill to provide tools for individuals to create or update their wills at no cost. By including the foundation in their estate plans, supporters can ensure the protection of journalists, the amplification of vital stories, and the continuation of documentary projects that advocate for justice and change.
Continuing the Mission
Stories like Arkady’s underscore the importance of safeguarding truth-telling in dangerous environments. Legacy gifts, whether large or small, help guarantee that future generations of journalists can continue this work and that communities worldwide remain informed.
For more information, visit https://www.freewill.com/theviifoundation.