Photo Gallery

Colombia

Integrated Rural Health Project - Sumapaz

In the mountainous post-conflict area of Colombia, we found a small community hospital with such motivated and creative-thinking health workers. In Sumapaz, the increase use of pesticides in agriculture has resulted in many health problems in the local farming community. To tackle the upstream issues, this team of health workers developed a holistic and integrated solution: taking health services right to homes of patients, integrating traditional herbal medicine with modern medicine and educating local farmers on cultivating crops organically. Many western healthcare models could benefit from this advanced approach.

Smiling family with mountains in the background

Sumapaz, Colombia Mountains and Blue Sky

Older woman smiling with plants in her hands

Zika Children's Care Initiative - Baranquilla

By December 2016, over 19,000 pregnant women were affected by the Zika virus resulting in the birth of 2000+ babies with birth abnormalities. One researcher, Dr Marcella Mercardo, realized that she could not only study the virus but she had to do more to ensure that these children could have access to the specialized health services they need. Joined by passionate pediatricians, Dr Marcella started regular outreach clinics to the key affected cities in Colombia. It was beautiful to observe the incredible dedication and love these mothers care for their children, despite other social and economic challenges they may face.

Latin American Grandmother playing tickling toddler in her arms

Young Latin American mother playing with daughter

Young Latin American girl with Zika playing on blue toy

Young Latin American boy with Zika virus on mothers lap

Doctor consultation with little boy with Zika virus

Doctor speaking to parents and son with Zika virus

Little Latin American boys playing with toys

Malawi

There Is Hope - Lilongwe

Having the opportunity to film the work of this organization is an experiences that will have a lasting impact for me personally. To experience the Dzeleka refugee camp and meet individuals such as Anna and Gentile have shown me the true power that resides within ‘hope’. Hope is not optimism, it is a much deeper force that can help the human soul triumph amidst some of the greatest adversity and disappointment. Yet, the stories of everyone involved in ‘There is Hope’ goes even further, to show the abundant goodness in the world and that within each one of us lies the capacity to lift up those alongside us. To learn more about There is Hope, visit www.thereishopemalawi.org

Little African girl laughing and hands covering her mouth

Two young African woman with sewing machine

African woman smiling with sewing machine

Yoneco (Youth Net and Counseling) - Zomba

Some days are just fun! Spending time with these youngsters reminded me of the joy wrapped up in childhood. How can we as adults, still keep a childlike heart irrespective of the situations each day may bring? To learn more about the work of Yoneco, visit www.yoneco.org

Teenage African girl standing with bicycle

Two teenage African girls sitting on step with grandmother

Group of African youth waving books in the air

Little African girl and band in background

Little African boy with finger in his mouth

Two young African boys on metal structure

Teenage African girl having finger pricked by nurse

Backs of two African women looking at group of people

Little African boy playing drums and others dancing

Malawi Health & Life

There is not another nation or people who have taught me so much as Malawi. So often, through a development perspective, this nation is only associated with a severe lack of economic wealth. But the question begs as to whether our indicators for measuring development are indeed accurate? If indicators could measure generosity, joy, kindness and resilience, then this nation would be in the leading ranks. I was so often struck by returning to the more prosperous contexts after having spent time in Malawi and witnessing how under-developed humanity has become in places we consider ‘advanced’. If prosperity, wealth and progress results in us failing to cast a friendly smile at a passerby, engage in meaningless conversation with a shop attendant or failure to help out our neighbor in need, then I am so grateful for the chance to be a student of each Malawian citizen I have met.

African boy on bicycle with mountains in background

African woman walking with baby strapped to her back and with bright orange umbrella

Nurse with mother and baby boy in African hospital

Group of African women walking with matching skirts

African man on motorcycle with village backdrop

Peru

Mamás del Río - Amazon

It took getting on a plane, taking a long taxi ride and hopping on a boat, to arrive at this small community of 16 families on the banks of the river passing through the Peruvian Amazon. Jungle filming invoked the same excitement as the very first film we did many years ago. It was great to witness how Rainer, a community health worker, cares for his neighbors. Through his efforts, maternal and neonatal deaths have been avoided. The most basic of care at the last mile can have a significant impact.

Latin American girls standing on steps at building entrance

Latin American young mom with baby and umbrella

Community health worker with young Latin American mother and baby

Community health worker explaining diagram to Latin American women

Young Latin American boy hanging off wooden pole

Two Latin American women sitting down with baby girl drinking milk from mother

Latin American woman, boy and baby sitting down

Latin American girl peeking through window

Little Latin American boy waving from house

Little Latin American girl standing and posing

The Philippines

Social Innovations in Health - Zumaraga, Palawan, Surigao, ManilaMamás del Río - Amazon

The Philippines is so rich in diversity, from the big bustling city of Manila to islands that invoke feelings of being in paradise. Doing this work in collaboration with colleagues at the University of the Philippines made for a great adventure. The ability to meet people from such different walks of life remains the biggest reward from doing this work. In Surigao, we were the guests of the Mayor of Del Carmen, a leader filled with such passion and dedication to empower his local community to become innovators and solvers of their own health challenges.

Asian health workers standing with old man sitting

White Female photographer with young Asian girl

Stone cross with rural Philippines village

Two young Asian boys looking out at village below

Woman on bicycle with boy sitting inside attached cart

Group of young Asian boys and girls smiling and waving

Uganda

Action for Women and Awakening in Rural Environments - Karamoja

The work of Grace Lumbo and her colleagues at AWARE has stood the test of time. Located in the rural remote north-eastern part of Uganda (Karamoja), she and other women have invested tirelessly to uplift women as equal and deserving citizens. In their words ‘women are seen as property’, people with no rights. Kidnappings and forced marriage of young girls who are just coming of age, is not uncommon. The region is frequently affected by changes in climate that causes extreme drought and an acute limit of food supply. Yet, the women we met here have an inner strength that is worth the highest admiration. You can learn more about AWARE at www.awareuganda.org.

Two older African women sitting together

African women in traditional clothing with children

African village community with health worker

Black and white image of older african woman

African woman laughing with community health worker

Black and white image of elderly African woman with beads around neck

Field with rocks and African woman walking

Kyaninga Child Development Centre - Fort Portal

At the end of a day of filming, as the sun was setting over the hills of Fort Portal, I had the opportunity to sit on the porch with founders Steve Williams and Fiona Beckerlegge. When I asked Steve, why he started KCDC, his answer was uncomplicated: ‘because it needed doing’. So often, we see all the social challenges in the world around us but we fail to stop and be the ones to take a step of action. What if we all could adopt Steve’s attitude, even in the smallest of ways, and use our lives to do the work that most needs doing? And yet, Fiona does so much more than just getting the job done. She pours heart and soul into loving Ugandan children who are affected by disabilities. With the dedication, love and humility that Steve and Fiona bring to the task, more than a thousand children have received the necessary rehabilitative services that would not otherwise be possible in their country. To learn more about the work of this remarkable organization, visit www.kyaningacdc.org.