We were excited to see that our schedule for this week started off with a day of rest and a tour of Juba, the city we’re staying and shooting in while we document the upcoming national elections in Sudan. So much I’d love to say, but will need to just leave you with a few images from our short tour. Now, I need to run out and buy more airtime to call home… missing Lauren’s voice
terribly…

Together with our good friend Matthew Smith, we’ve launched the project, “In Their Own Voices,” hit the videos below to learn more…

TheirOwnVoicesCONGOPartI from Benjamin and Matthew on Vimeo.

Voices, Part II from Benjamin and Matthew on Vimeo.

Late last year we were fortunate (we being our media NPO Emote 360 and World Relief NEXT) to produce and enter a short video to the “Raise Hope For Congo” contest sponsored by The Enough Project and You Tube.  The idea was to create awareness regarding the atrocities being committed in the DRC surrounding the topic of conflict minerals. 

Having just been to the DRC to gather stories and footage to document the work World Relief is doing in the North Kivu province, we felt we had the media to tell the story.  Written by Mathew Smith of NEXT and produced by the Emote crew, our heart was to tell the story and the story won.  The video is now being used all over the world and we are glad to do our small part.

Our prize?  First and foremost knowing that the people of Congo are what truly matter and that we’ve done one small thing to help tell their story.  We also got a really heavy award from the Hollywood Film festival.  Just goes to show, it’s the heart that counts.  We didn’t wow the judges with expensive technology, our video was shot with a Nikon D90 DSLR in a small 1950’s garage with a shop light.  We came together, used our gifts and hopefully made a difference for people who cry out, but cannot be heard. 
What’s your cause?  What can you do today to get involved?  Use your gifts…

If you haven’t seen the video:

ENOUGH PROJECT VIDEO ENTRY from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

Rob Bell speaks up for Haiti from World Relief NEXT on Vimeo.

Please continue to pray for Haiti, our friends at World Relief are on the ground there, doing their best to respond to this disaster.

Friends, those who we draw inspiration from, and companies that exemplify great business practice.  Kevin, Clare, Wendy, Jed and Vicki, Bill, Craig and the very lovable Doug–thank you for your support of Emote360 and your encouragement to keep going. 

As a special thank you and surprise, these companies (and the dear friends behind them) took out a full page ad in this months PDN magazine, thanking Emote360 for its work.  What a blessing.  Thank YOU!

Photographers, if you aren't aware of these companies, you need to be!  If you are, thanks for supporting them.
Blessings,
–B

We were blessed to have our media NPO, Emote360, featured in this months PDN Magazine.  Emote, which is co-operated with friends Gary Christenson and Elizabeth Fischer, was established to help other non-profits better tell their story utilizing new and social media as well as high end video and still photography.
PDN, thank you for your support of Emote360 and for highlighting those who choose to give back to their communities by sharing their gifts and talents.

Our media NPO, emote360, was featured on KOHD news with WRNEXT, check it here.

Nikon D90 Shines in Africa from emote360 on Vimeo.

About 45 minutes from the nearest paved road and resting on the hillside above lake Kivu in South West Rwanda sits Kibogora Hospital.  Complete with digital imaging and e-records, this hospital kept the team in awe…

The women’s HIV ward…

Sure enough, there was a mamma in there having a baby…

Mamma’s waiting to have their babies…

This little one was premature…And so cute…

This little buddy got his arm fixed up…

Waiting for his operation…

The kiddos of Kibogora…  Many of these little ones are malnourished.  One 7 month old weighed only seven pounds…  The good news… They are getting treatment and their parents are taking instruction on proper eating habbits.

It’s amazing the strength and relaxation that comes from walking up and down the beach while the surf laps onto your toes.  We needed this short break…

This is mowing the lawn, Rwandan style…