The Project
We were invited to travel alongside A Voice is Heard, working in partnership with communities in developing nations. They work to provide life’s basic necessities through sustainable solutions for the provision of food, water, medical care, education, and alternative sources of income. They have been traveling back and forth from the states to this same region for the past 7 years, befriending the Maasai and working side by side with them. We had been tasked with creating a brand film for AVIH in order to help show donors first hand how important their ongoing mission is to the Maasai.
Director's Statement
As a documentary filmmaker, it’s rare to travel without a plan. Usually, we go through our scripts and our outlines with a fine tooth comb narrowing down every last detail. We map out our locations and engage ourselves in the research ritual where we lock ourselves away and read books and live on wikipedia for weeks on end in preparation for the shoot ahead. I know in our heart of hearts we want to be prepared, but we are also losing something….something sacred to every true filmmaker —the art of discovery. There’s something sacred that every artist engages in when he or she ventures into the unknown with nothing more than a camera and a taste for discovering the real story. It’s raw and emotional meeting someone for the first time and earning their trust in that very moment.
This would be our challenge as we touch down in Kenya…
On one hand,we have a mission. We were invited to travel alongside our hosts, A Voice is Heard a non-profit organization working in partnership with communities in developing nations. They work to provide life’s basic necessities through sustainable solutions for the provision of food, water, medical care, education, and alternative sources of income. They have been traveling back and forth from the states to this same region for the past 7 years, befriending the Maasai and working side by side with them. We have been tasked with creating a Brand Film for AVIH in order to help show donors first hand how important their ongoing mission is to the Maasai. On the other hand, we were given permission to create our own companion piece of our choosing – a filmmaker’s dream. No creative boundaries….just discovery.
Interested In Hearing More About Our Adventure?
The Massai
The Maasai, one of the largest tribes in Kenya, are historically nomadic or semi-nomadic. Today, because of the effects of globalization and western aid and development, the tribe has settled in numerous villages. Our mission brought us to Amboseli — a village 4 hours southeast of Nairobi.
Community members came from a far to celebrate our first “Non – Cutting Ceremony.” The symbolic “Coming of Age” is a milestone in the life of a girl. Our girls were draped in blackcloth, mothers by their side, sharing a Maasai ritual practiced for generations. One difference separated our girls, they were there to speak out, celebrate becoming a woman without “Female Genital Mutilation.”
This was all thanks to the tireless efforts of A Voice is Heard — working to give the Maasai access to clean drinking water, healthcare, and schooling has resulted in a whole generation of girls having access to an education they otherwise would’ve never received, ceasing the practice of FGM, and holding a level of control they would’ve, otherwise, never had over their lives.
Meyelo
Empowering women with a sustainable income through their craft is the inspiration for Meyelo. Investing in women is the key to social and economic change. Every purchase provides our artisans with a source of fair trade income, support for their community, and a global platform for their work. Each Meyelo piece is handcrafted in Kenya. Every purchase provides community development in the villages of our artisans. When you wear our products, you are changing lives.
This project was made possible through our Projects That Matter Initiative. The Projects That Matter Initiative is a program that was created over a decade ago for the benefit of non-profit organizations by providing them with cost-effective solutions for video production and other creative services. If you are a non-profit organization and are interested in learning how your organization can qualify or to simply learn more click the button below.