Maybe it started after seeing James Natchwey speak at Photo Plus Expo – the desire to create awareness with my camera. But I think it started long ago and in fact goes back to my roots and why I wanted to be a photographer. Simply put, I know that a camera can be a powerful tool in bringing awareness to a cause and with that the ability to bring about change.
I’ve always been interested in the power of the individual, those that are so passionate about a conviction they let nothing stop them. One young woman Maggie Doyne who graduated from high school with my daughter 5 years ago, decided to travel instead of going off to college. She wound up in a small village in Nepal and using her babysitting money, started a school/orphanage for Nepalese children orphaned by war. Learn more about Maggie’s Kopila Valley Children’s Home.
But what’s equally impressive about Maggie is that she speaks to students about how they can make a difference, thus planting seeds in the minds of our youth. That’s a powerful thing and each one of those people she speaks to has the potential do something that could make a difference.
This leads me to the point of this blog and how you can help. I’m embarking on an international project – to make a documentary that features people who are truly making a difference around the world. I am currently searching for those people who have a compelling story to tell. For this project, I am not looking for those who are specifically working for an NGO or some type of organization, such as the Peace Corps, because their stories – the stories of those organizations – have already been widely told.
I am searching for individuals who have embarked on their own personal projects to help make the world a better place – people who have followed their passions, ambitions, dreams, to start something that they care about. Their projects do not have to be massive or overly ambitious – it could be something as basic as restoring old churches in Russia. The people can be natives of their country or expatriates, young or old. Ideally, I would like to find 7 people, one on each continent.
So, if you know someone who is making a difference, please let me know. gail@kellymooney.com And if you don’t know someone, please pass this blog along and get the word out virally. My hope is that by using my skills to tell these stories, I will play my part in paying it forward.
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Journeys of a Hybrid 
Will keep my eyes open for you.
Wonderful idea, really tough to make suggestions — mainly because more and more I come to see that, in many respects, it seems to be the most unnoticed that deserve the notice. For example, restoring churches in Russia might seem basic, but in some ways it’s kind of grand. Not that I’m putting it down. By somehow I wonder how we can record the amazing people who are totally off the grid.
Natchwey featured the heroic work of Father Mike, and I totally appreciated how intimate and up close he got to this heroic man. But in a way, Father Mike is too heroic to “digest.”
Maybe you should start with Doyne and see where that leads you? Maybe you should look through old assignments you shot, that made you think: I want to go back and tell this person’s story better.
This is a great idea! I will keep my eyes open.
You should reach out to Kristy Graves. twitter/kg
Thanks Chris – I will reach out to Kristy Graves.