When Mary Anave Abdulsalam was growing up, she was always drawn to cameras.
While others saw them as tools for taking pictures, she saw something more. A way to capture moments, tell stories, and help people see the world differently.
Not everyone understood her passion.
But her mother did.
Despite the uncertainty that often comes with choosing a creative career, her mother bought her a Nikon camera and encouraged her to explore photography. That single act of belief became the foundation of Mary’s journey.
“It’s something I do, and I’m fulfilled,” Mary says. “Through cameras, I get to see different perspectives and tell stories that make people think.”
As her interest grew, so did her understanding of the power of storytelling. She realised stories could do more than entertain—they could shape opinions, challenge assumptions, and inspire change.
A film she watched years ago, Do You Believe?, reinforced that belief.
“It changed the way I saw things,” she recalls.
Before joining Dinovate Creative Academy, Mary was already creating videos. She had the passion and the creativity, but she wanted to understand the craft at a deeper level.
“I could make good videos,” she explains, “but I didn’t fully understand why certain techniques worked the way they did.”
That changed during the Academy’s Cinematography Programme, where she trained under filmmaker Joseph Bala.
Lighting became more than illumination.
Framing became intentional.
Every camera movement, every composition, and every creative decision began to carry meaning.
One of the biggest changes came after the programme had ended.
“When I started watching films again, I noticed things I had never paid attention to before,” she says.
For Mary, that shift in perspective changed everything.
“If my life were a book, joining the Academy would be Chapter Two: New Beginnings.”
Today, Mary works as a Communication Strategist at AREAi, where she uses storytelling to support development programmes, including initiatives that improve access to education for children in rural communities.
She is also working on her own film, Contrast, a project that explores how people often experience the same reality through completely different perspectives.
It is exactly the kind of story she hopes to keep telling.
Stories that encourage reflection.
Stories that start conversations.
Stories that leave people seeing the world a little differently.
When asked what excites her most about the future, her answer is simple:
“Looking back and seeing the lives these stories have touched.”
At Dinovate Creative Academy, we believe every young creative deserves the opportunity to develop their talent, sharpen their skills, and discover the impact their stories can have.
Mary’s journey is one reminder that when potential is nurtured, stories don’t just change lives; they help shape the future.