Homepage

Kenyan university lecturer became drug trafficker

My downfall from being a university lecturer to a drug trafficker was paved with love and betrayal. Be careful who you marry.

Racism

The top U.S. military leaders in October 2019 | Department of Defence

Deep-rooted racism, discrimination permeates U.S. military

I was always aware of being a brown officer in a room full of white officers. I always felt like an outsider.

Sex & Gender

Agustín is finally comfortable in his own body and provides support and encouragement to trans youth.

A trans father who always knew he was a man

Agustín lived 24 years uncomfortable in a female body. Today he is a happy father and a proud role model on Instagram.

Health

Hope Virgo fought for her life; campaigns for eating disorder support

Eating disorders present in all different shapes and sizes. Just because you can’t see that someone is visibly struggling, it doesn’t mean they aren’t.

Orato is Latin for 'Speak'

As traditional news media organizations become more polarized or implode altogether, the number of people seeking objective news sources grows. The confluence of this desire mixed with emerging and proven revenue models create a tipping point for Orato.

More

Boy with cystic fibrosis pleads for Pfizer vaccine

His fight goes beyond the vaccine. He struggles to leave a legacy. He wants to show everybody that they must treat people with diseases like his.

Racism

Former racist emerges from the dark

Racism wasn't about hate, as one living on the inside of this story as a brainwashed kid.

Travel & Adventure

33

Woman’s Everest speed-climb record came after near-death attempt

The top of Mount Everest was just 100 meters before us when the Sherpa behind me tapped me on the shoulder. Time to turn back, he told me, and I agreed.

Crime & Corruption

Ex-gang leader faces reckoning for years of killing, rape, and terror

I became heartless and could do anything to anyone, including killing if that was my mission.

Notable Quote

Someone has to come by and see us, we thought. Instantly my mind repeated, You are not destined to stay on this island forever, Julia. There is still hope.

Julia in Trio survives 33 days on remote island after shipwreck

Get our newsletters

Child seeks justice in India after repeated rape

The cops look at me pryingly, point fingers at my character, and don't view me as a credible enough victim.

Crime & Corruption

South African Defence Forces soldiers quelling violence and riots on the 15 of July 2021 in Alexandria/South Africa following the incarceration of the former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma over corruption allegations. |

Man shot to death, store looted at pro-Zuma protests in South Africa

Pro-Jacob Zuma protests in South Africa resulted in killings, shootings, and lootings.

Arts & Culture

Dagoberto Huerta doing what he loves the most: dancing. Photo by Sexta de artistas.

Chile’s first professional deaf dancer

Deafness has not prevented me from achieving my goals. Sometimes having everything is not so necessary, you can do more with less.

Immigration

Spanish national police checking the containers where the bodies were found alive.

Spanish National Police save refugees from cargo containers

Although I am an agent of the Guard, situations like these, where human beings risk their lives to improve their living conditions, are heartbreaking.

Photo Galleries

5

Photo gallery: Camel sale in the desert

In the holy city of Pushkar, on the shores of the Thar desert, the largest cattle fair in India, the Pushkar Mela or Camel Fair, is held.

Arts & Culture

Environment

Veronica showing scraps of TILEX. Her shirt was also grown from Yerba Mate.

Kenya DJ drops the beat and the stigma

Conflict

Omar Bekali has made the liberation of Uyghurs his lifelong mission.

Omar Bekali survived the Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang, China

Conflict

Image depicts the horrible scene in one of the classes during the attack in Garissa Moi University. | Grandmother Africa

Survivor of Kenya’s Garissa massacre witnessed terrorists’ every move

Conflict

Dentist in Lebanon treats Syrian victims after brutal attacks

Immigration

Keiver spends more than 10 hours per day at a renowned shopping center trying to earn money to allow him to buy bread for his family. Photo by Maivy Gómez

Venezuelan refugee walks over 500 miles for freedom; left hopeless

Crime & Corruption

Boys are made to lay face down at a Troubled Teen Industry compound. Photo courtesy WWASPS Survivors.

Thousands of children violently abused by troubled teen programs

Crime & Corruption

Man accused, then exonerated of child rape, speaks out

Viruses

Shambhu Nath's younger brother Swami Nath died of Covid-19 the next day

India families forced to dump dead relatives in river

Sex & Gender

Jackeline Nyaguthi Karimi is a Kenyan businesswoman who has endured and go through the pain of love.

Near-fatal attack left deep physical and mental scars

Education

Sex & Gender

Paxton Smith pictured at her graduation ceremony at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas.

Paxton Smith reflects on graduation speech swap, starting college, and new book deal

Environment

Cape Town fire threatens student residents

Education

Chaos erupts in Johannesburg streets following student protest for financial inclusion

Students face death fighting for financial inclusion

Sex & Gender

Elizabeth Muriuki was a teen mother in Kenya who helps young women in Kenya through Serene Haven Secondary School

‘Second chance at life’ for Kenyan teen mothers

Environment

Fallout from the collapsed mine. | Kelly Ogome

Gold mine collapse in Kenya killed my brothers

Immigration

U.S. Coast Guard drops supplies to the stranded trio

Trio survives 33 days on remote island after shipwreck

Environment

Rupjyoti Saikia Gogoi mixing plastic with cotton threads at her loom in Bocha Gaon village in Assam

India’s Village Weaves turn trash into tapestries

Visionaries

First electric handcart, Climate change, Kenya, Handcart business, Kenneth Guantai, Mkokoteni sector

Kenya’s first electric handcart creates potential for green transformation

Health

Rahul (right) and his younger siblings were orphaned by COVID-19

COVID-19 orphan becomes child laborer, raises minor siblings

Health

Isaac Mwaura-Chairman of the Albinism Society of Kenya.

Man born with albinism fights for rights in Kenya

Health

Mpilo Hospital in Zimbabwe burns from an electrical fire on May 26, 2021

Zimbabwe hospital destroyed in fire displaces 39 families

Health

Lincoln Wamae, founder of Linccell Technology, based in Githurai, Kenya.

Kenyan innovator converts trash into electric wheelchairs

Immigration

Wanja and other detainees at Sakan deportation facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Most of them have been forced to dress in hijabs as an absolute rule by their employers

Kenyan woman trapped in Saudi Arabia

Conflict

Said Yousef Mohammad Odeh, 16, was shot to death by an Israeli soldier on May 5.

West Bank child killings investigator battles horror

Immigration

Makonde citizenship move cements status in Kenya

Immigration

Plans to close Kenya refugee camps causing distress to refugees

Refugee camp closures spawn terror among outcast LGBTQ members

Policing

A photo shows Jean Carlo with a group of police officers before he was killed.

Searching for my husband’s body

Immigration

Return to Venezuela marred by abuse

Conflict

Chilean street doctors risk everything for patients

Policing

Two female Kenyan rangers dressed in green uniforms walk through the Kenyan wilderness.

‘Team Lioness’ defends against armed poachers

Racism

From racism to one race: the Jane Elliott story

Conflict

A protest sign made out of a white bed sheet.

Fighting for the land: Life of a Mapuche activist

Racism

Miss Albinism Zimbabwe wears a tiara and holds a bouquet

Zimbabwe albino community faces rituals, oppression

Science & Technology

Education

A black gaming laptop shows a zoom call.

Philippines not ready for online learning

Viruses

Transparent masks give window to communicate

Sex & Gender

Activists from Pembe Hayat LGBTI Solidarity Association attempt to hold a press conference before being dispersed by police. | Can Eren

Surviving Istanbul Pride Parade amid teargas and beatings

Sports

Navigator Linet Ayuko, Driver Maxime Wahome, and Navigator Chantel Young during the Team Betika for the Safari Rally launch

Female crew breaks barriers in WRC Safari Rally debut

Health

Milka Hadida getting ready to hit the road with a bicycle distributing sanitary pads

Keeping Kenya’s girls in school one pad at a time

Sex & Gender

Leo Wolters Tejera is an openly gay, trans, non-binary Christian minister

Christian minister forges their own path

Sports

Joan Manga gets on the bus before anyone else each day on his way to the athletics stadium, an athlete and coach. Photo by David Moran.

Colombian government refuses sponsorship of top Paralympic athlete

Sex & Gender

Women take the wheel and the tool kit

Sports

Second kick at soccer glory for amputee star

Sports

Pandemic threatens world-record triathlon attempt

Travel & Adventures

Travel & Adventure

Kami Rita summits Mount Everest for a record 25th time with his team of Sherpas.

After climbing Everest 25 times, Sherpa faces another perilous ascent

Viruses

Julieta Fernandez captured ghostly images during her quarantine at sea.

Stranded on cruise ship

Immigration

Camila Hernández stands at the waterfront in Sweden.

Life as an ex-pat during a global pandemic

Travel & Adventure

Two nights on the edge of death

Viruses

Shahnawaz Sheikh is working 24/7 to save as many lives as he can through his Unity & Dignity Foundation. | Shahnawaz Sheikh

India’s ‘Oxygen Man’ breathes life into region

Health

Death after botched diagnosis sparks push for new law

Health

Empty antiretroviral drug bottles in her house

HIV medicine shortage threatens thousands in Kenya

Sports

Federico Abruzzi delivering food during the pandemic.

Soccer star delivers food to community

Visionaries

Sex & Gender

Celina Esteban with her team at the Centro de Salud No. 7.

Transgender nurse smashes glass ceiling

Sports

Eliud Kipchoge training outside his compound

Running was life for Kenya’s world record marathoner

Health

Disability visibility lifelong effort

Crime & Corruption

Horror of child rape cases sparks helper app

Whistleblowers

Health

Deborah Kahan with Rocco and the rest of the family

Routine exam left boy with brain injury

Environment

Phyllis Omido stands with her arms in the air while surrounded by Kenyan protesters.

Decade-long fight weighs on Kenyan activist

Viruses

Fighting COVID-19 with few resources

Whistleblower

Spy on a leash

Inside Orato

Updates from the team on initiatives, latest updates and behind-the-scenes news

A screen grab from a video featuring Maria Ressa from Rappler.

Let’s get to work

Let’s take this year by the horns and tell more newsworthy and compelling first-person stories. Because, at the end of the day, that’s why we’re all here.

A brighter future

As Orato World Media marks its return to the digital news sphere, we're wary of the traps and pitfalls that lie ahead.

Nicolas Preci photo of an elder giving a blessing.

We’re growing, together

We appreciate your dedication to Orato. We are eternally grateful to provide a platform for your storytelling.

A photo illustration of a journalist taking notes.

An icon of press freedom

Armed with insight and inspiration from Maria Ressa, our fight against the weaponization of fake news continues.

Social Media

Newsletters

Subscribe

Sign up for our newsletters

Join