Michel Lunanga: Trainer of the Canon Academy

My Canon Story

Michel Lunanga is an independent documentary photographer/Photojournalist, Canon Certified Trainer, multimedia producer, and SDG advocate from Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now based in Goma, Michel connects art and technology to promote sustainable development and inspire social change. Through his storytelling, he champions the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on health, human rights, environmental sustainability, and social justice.

Michel's journey began in childhood when his family faced poverty, war, and displacement. He found solace in nature and discovered his passion for photography. He studied general pedagogy in Kinshasa, DRC, and multimedia in Guangzhou, China, where he worked professionally. These experiences equipped him to teach from an early age and advocate for social justice, particularly for young people and single women like his mother. After honing his skills in East Africa, China, and beyond, Michel returned home with a mission to uplift others through creativity and education.

Since 2013, Michel has been working on an initiative called LTA Connect (Life Through Arts). In 2020, he gathered a team of young creatives—artists, tech entrepreneurs, and activists—and officially established Life Through Arts (LTA) to connect the world through art and technology. LTA aims to empower youth and marginalized groups through the arts, eco-tourism, environmental advocacy, technology, and education. The organization offers skills training, creative therapies, eco-solutions, and platforms for self-expression, fostering inclusive development and sustainability. Michel continues to manage the organization, teach multimedia, and produce content while also guiding visitors through Go Out And Discover, a tourism initiative that promotes sustainable travel and culture in the region.

In addition to his personal projects, Michel joined the Lens on Life Project in 2016 in partnership with Camme RDC and later collaborated with Canon Academy in 2021 to educate youth—young men and women—in computer literacy and photography via the Canon Young People and Miraisha programs, helping them build sustainable livelihoods. His commitment to empowering others has earned him recognition as a Canon Certified Professional Trainer.

Michel's leadership and expertise have been recognized on a global scale. He served as the DRC youth representative and speaker at the Fifth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries in Doha, Qatar, where he trained youth in storytelling as part of the Canon Young People exhibition. He was also chosen as a Millennium Fellow and participated as a speaker in the Global Learning Initiative at Florida International University. Michel is a Canon mentor/trainer and a Canon Student Program alumnus, further emphasizing his commitment to youth empowerment and creative education.

Michel has collaborated with numerous local and international organizations, enterprises, and media outlets, including Help A Child, DM Home, UNHCR, Lens on Life, Canon, The New York Times, UN, Nederlands Dagblad, and The Guardian. His multimedia work underscores the power of storytelling to advance the SDGs, particularly quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), and climate action (SDG 13), with a focus on enhancing community resilience and creativity.

Michel has also contributed to several Doctors Without Borders (MSF) operations, documenting humanitarian crises. His collaborations with Getty Images, Agence France-Presse (AFP), European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), and the African Photojournalism Database, along with LTA Images (his initiative), have garnered international attention, amplifying the voices of those affected by conflict and displacement.

His photography and multimedia projects have been widely featured in outlets such as France24, The New York Times, and The Guardian, and more. his work has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as Institut Français, One Off Contemporary Art Gallery, Serena Hotel in Goma, as well as in Kinshasa, Paris, New York, Kigali, Nairobi, and Bujumbura. Michel continues to collaborate with media, communications, and humanitarian organizations, telling untold stories and promoting sustainable development on a global scale.

Michel Lunanga is the founder and editor of LTA Images, a multimedia agency that connects African voices with global audiences through impactful, authentic storytelling, while empowering local talent and fostering sustainable careers in Africa’s creative industries.